
Class_C9)7/_ 

Book -Oa_ 

Copyright N" 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



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HENRY LEBBEUS OAK 



OAK-OAKS-OAKES 



FAMILY REGISTER 

NATHANIEL Oak 

OF MARLBOROUGH, MASS. 

AND THREE GENERATIONS OF HIS DESCENDANTS 
IN BOTH MALE AND FEMALE LINES 

By henry LKBBEUS OAK 



With Sketch of Life of 

HENRY LEBBEUS OAK 

HISTORICAL WRITER AND GENEALOGIST 



" HERB ARB THE NAMES OF MANY OAKS 
WHO WVED AND DIED I<IKE OTHER FOI<KS.' 



PRINTED FOR SUBSCRIBBRS WITH PERMISSION OF THE 

New Engi^and Historic Genealogicai, Society of Boston, Mass. 

TO WHOM THE AUTHOR BEQUEATHED THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS 

BT 

Ora Oak, Cucamonga, California 



1906 

OUT WEST CO. PRINT 
LOS ANGELES 



A^ 






ij> 



n.l3RARY of congress] 
Two CoDi«s Received 
J\U IV 1907 

/) .\popyl£ht Entry . 
CLASS A XXc, No. 
COPY B. 



Entered According to Act of Congress, 

at Washiufton, D. C. 

1906 

By ORA OAK 



PREFACE. 



All history as a record of men's acts, is biography. To record 
facts is always a legitimate and worthy object. The record of a 
family is as valuable to the family as the record of a town to its 
inhabitants. The comprehensive genealogical record is to the 
tribe what -the Bible or tombstone record is to the single family. 
It is in no proper sense a book for the public. It is put in print 
simply to insure greater permanence and accessibility. An an- 
cient prejudice has caused the printing of a family history to be 
regarded as a sort of title hunting, or an effort to invest a com- 
monplace family wtih a fictitious prominence. American geneal- 
ogists as a rule have taken a different and proper view of the 
matter. Hundreds of such histories have been printed, thou- 
sands of them are being compiled, and the custom receives the 
hearty approval of the best men. 

The undertaking of this work in 1891 was due to a realization 
of the fact — sad, though by no means new or peculiar — that the 
writer's own family was nearing extinction in its old home. 
In the quiet little adjoining New England towns of Garland and 
Exeter, Maine, where his great grandfather had died, as also his 
grandfather and great uncles and aunts, where their children 
had spent their lives ; where he and others of his generation had 
been born — there were but five of the name surviving, all in old 
age. Soon the name would be found there only on tombstones. 

The younger generations were widely scattered ; and in a few 
years, all knowledge of the old home and the relationship be- 
tween the branches there originating would be lost. Inspired 
by this somewhat sentimental view of the matter, the writer 
determined to compile and if possible to print a small pamphlet 
record of the ancestors and descendants of his great grandfather, 
the only Oaks of whom our family had any knowledge. As he 
progressed with the work he not only became fascinated with it — 
the usual experience of those who dabble in genealogy — but he 
came to realize that his branch of the family was only one of 
many ; that Garland and Exeter were only one of many old 
homes whence the Oaks had been distributed — the same tender 
memories clustering about each of those centers as about ours. 
So the scope of the work was extended to include all descendants 
of our immigrant ancestor. 



4 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

Isolated in the mountains of California, the writer has been 
obliged to rely on personal correspondence for the later genera- 
tions ; and for the earlier ones largely on the services of agents 
who have searched for him the archives and libraries. It is hoped 
that the record will compare favorably in accuracy with similar 
works. Doubtless there are errors. Correspondents are not al- 
ways sufficiently careful. Searchers and copyists are by no 
means infallible. Records, civil and religious, often disagree. 
Relatives and friends give varying versions of a date or fact, and 
even the compiler has been known to make mistakes. 

To members of the family who as a rule have promptly ans- 
wered my queries, several in each branch collecting material 
outside of their immediate connections, and especially to the 
older women of the tribe — most enthusiastic and helpful of all — 
my hearty thanks are due. 

This record includes descendants in the female lines, a feature 
generally disapproved by genealogists. The writer is unable to 
admit the force of any objection he has heard. The distinction 
between male and female lines is purely an artificial one, resulting 
from the custom of children taking the father's name. Every 
descendant of the sixth generation is as fully an Oak as 
the writer. In life for the few generations personally known 
to each individual we make no distinction in our feelings between 
the children of sons and daughters. On these ties during life 
are founded our feelings toward generations beyond our knowl- 
edge, both past and future. Why in either case should we reject 
the female lines if we care for the family at all? 

OTHER OAKS IN AMERICA. 

It is estimated that the Oaks in the United States may be 
divided into four nearly equal classes. First, the family here 
recorded. Second, the well-known and widely scattered Cam- 
bridge-Maiden-North Yarmouth family, descendants of Thomas 
and Edward Oakes, who immigrated before 1640 and best known 
through Rev. Uriah, an early president of Harvard College. 

Third, the descendants of \Yiniam, a traditional immigrant from 
Wales, and whose sons William and probably John lived in Wor- 
cester County, Massachusetts, at the same time as our ancestors. 
They were doubtless remote kinsmen. 

Fourth, a miscellaneous class,- the largest element of which 
sprang from German immigrants settling in New York and Penn- 
sylvania, writing the name originally Och or Ochs. 

It is notable that in his voluminous correspondence the writer 
has found no descendants of any of the few Oaks named by Sav- 
age except Nathaniel, Edward and Thomas. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The descendants of Nathaniel Oak (i) through his sons so far 
as it has been possible to register them in eight years of diligent 
research, number about 10,000. If the descendants of his three 
daughters were added and all the missing lines and members 
were found the total would very likely be 20,000. The record 
of the first four generations as here printed contains 237 names. 
That is, the immigrant had 8 children, through his sons 35 grand- 
children, and 193 great grandchildren. 

The branches will be printed in like manner if the members 
will take copies enough to pay the cost of manufacture. Mem- 
bers whose means permit, and whose interest in the family goes 
beyond the early generations and their own branch, can purchase 
the other branch records. 

As in the case of most immigrants, we know nothing of Na- 
thaniel Oak's old-world pedigree, and no evidence has been 
found of kinship with other families of the name in America. As 
to the name, the immigrant wrote it "Oak," or sometimes "Oake"; 
so did his children, except Jonathan, (8) who late in life added an 
"s", and so did his grandchildren except those of Jonathan's 
children who settled in Maine. In one branch — Nathaniel (20) — 
and in parts of two others — Seth (11) and Sylvanus (39) — the 
original form has been retained ; but in all the others from the 
fourth or fifth generations "Oaks" and "Oakes" have been the 
forms preferred in about equal proportions. The tendency has 
been always to lengthen the name; no instance of its being short- 
ened is known. 

The family has been in no sense a distinguished one, its mem- 
bers in all generations having been for the most part farmers, 
mechanics and small traders in humble circumstances and un- 
known beyond the limits of the communities where they have 
lived. Most brancTies, however, have furnished several names 
favorably known in professional and official life ; and while not 
noted, the family has been generally respectable, the vicious and 
worthless being almost as rare as the prominent and learned 
and rich. A respectable percentage have been entrusted with 
public functions in town and church. The average of respect- 
ability has been high. Industry and integrity have been prevail- 
ing characteristics. Quiet reserve and modest pretentions have 



6 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

been the rule. Local prominence has been earned not assumed, 
and there has been a general tendency on the part of most to 
"mind their own business." In politics, religion and other non- 
essentials the Oaks have differed according to environment ; they 
have never been extreme partisans or fanatics. 

They were fairly represented in the Colonial wars, in the Revo- 
lution, in the War of 1812, and on both sides in the War of 
1861-5. They are widely scattered, living today in every state 
of the Union. No member has reason to be ashamed of the tribe 
as a whole. 

This record is merely a "family register," mainly of bare names 
and dates. There is no attempt to give it a fictitious appearance 
of literary or historical value. It has little interest or importance 
except to members of the family or a few genealogists who may 
consult it for other family connections. By the family it should 
be preserved as a "record" that will have increased value and in- 
terest for all future generations. 

Doubtless errors will be found — possibly more than usual in 
genealogic records, as the writer's research has been limited to 
correspondence with members of the family, with town a;id 
county officials and with agents employed to clear up certain 
points. Corrections, additions and especially clues to missing 
links will be gratefully received by the publisher. 

Credit and thanks are due to the many who have furnished in- 
formation, but to name them here would be to repeat too large 
a part of the record. In some cases credit will be given in the 
proper place when especially due. Among the genealogical ex- 
perts employed none have been so helpful as Rev. Anson Titus, 
of Tufts College, Mass. 

Roman numbers (I., IV., etc.) indicate the generation, and are 
prefixed to the family heading; elsewhere the raised exponent 
figure (George^, John-*, etc.) is used; (2, 5, etc.), the genealogic 
number in this record. 

HENRY L. OAK. 

Seigler Springs, Lake County, Cal., March, 1900. 



FAMILY REGISTER 
NATHANIEL OAK OF *MARLBOROUGH, MASS. 



I. THE IMMIGRANT. 

I. Nathaniel Oak I. Marlboro (now Northboro), Mass., far- 
mer; born about 1645; immigrant about 1660-5; rnarried first, De- 
cember 14, 1686; married second, May 20, 1703; died Westboro, 
February 17, 1721. First wife, Mehitable Rediat, daughter of 
John and Ann; — born Sudbury, 1646; died November 25, 1702; 
no children. Second wife, Mary Holloway, daughter of Adam' 
and Hannah^ (Hayward), widow of Jacob Farrar who was killed 
in Philip's War, 1676; born February 25, 1682; married third, 
Thomas Rice, July 2, 1722 (two children) ; died after 1733. Eight 
children (2-9). 

Of our immigrant ancestor's nationality we have only a vague 
tradition that he came from Wales. Probably he was of English 
stock; and a writer of 1826 calls him an Englishman. Respect- 
ing his, age, we have only the conjecture that he was at least as 
old as his first wife, — 40 in 1686. Of his coming to Amrica we 
have the following record — doubtless his own statement — handed 
down to his grandchildren and by the son of one of them (John'^ 
Conant (169) inscribed in the family Bible: "The grandfather 
of my mother was a cabin-boy on an English vessel bound to Bos- 
ton. Nine miles from land the vessel foundered. All the ship's 
crew, except the boy whose name was Oaks, were lost. He, be- 
ing a good swimmer, swam ashore. In his distress he solemnly 
promised the Lord if He would preserve him to get to land he 
would never go onto the water again. This promise he sacredly 
kept. His wife, my great-grandmother, could never persuade 
him even to cross Charles River in a boat to Boston. He would 
always go around upon the neck. Thus he reached his after- 
home, poor and penniless, without even clothes to cover him ; and 
as was then the custom, having no friends in America, he was 
bound out to earn his living. His master set him to work in a 
pitch-pine forest to pick up pine knots. In this employ he was 
attacked by a catamount, or wild-cat, which he slew with a large 
pine knot. His master gave him the bounty the State paid for 

•"Marlborongh" is the correct spellinfir,b«t througrhontthe text of this history we have 
nsed aa author's priTilege, and hence the abbreviated form, "Marlboro," appears. — O. O. 



8 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

the pelt of this furious beast, with which he bought a sheep or 
two, which he let out to double. These sheep were all the prop- 
erty he began the world with when he became of age. He often 
said that while swimming to land he suffered more from hunger 
than anything else. When tired he would turn on his back and 
rest. The above account I have often heard my mother and my 
uncles relate." 

In 1830-40 there were members of the tribe who believed in 
an "English fortune" awaiting the heirs — a mania that has at- 
tacked most families at one time or another ; but unfortunately — 
for genealogical rather than financial reasons — they have left no 
record of the facts or theories on which their hopes rested. The 
first record of Nathaniel', and the only one found by Savage, is 
that of his first marriage in 1686. Later the records are sufficient 
though not of great importance or interest. In the early years 
his conduct was in certain respects not exemplary, but after his 
second marriage he seems to have become a respectable, though 
not a prominent citizen. In documents of the time he is termed 
"yeoman," "planter" and sometimes "gentleman." He was in 
comfortable circumstances, having acquired some land through 
his first wife, whose father was a man of property. He is men- 
tioned in town and county records ; in the Worcester Magazine, 
1826; and in Hudson's History of Marlboro. In 1688 he paid 
4s 6d taxes under the Andros government. In 1692 he served in 
a garrison; and in 1707 as one of the Goodnow garrison, he took 
part in a fight with the Indians. In 1702 he signed the call to 
Rev. John Emerson ; and there are a few records of his land trans- 
actions. His home farm, near Stirrup Brook, has since been 
locally famous as the "Peter Whitney Place." The old house 
was burned and the present one built in 1780. In 1900 it has 
been occupied about forty years by Samuel McClure, being about 
sixty rods north of the Old Northboro church. In 1717 that part 
of*Marlboro containing the Oak farm was set off asfWestboro; 

* Marlboro, Worcester County, Mass., 36 miles west from Boston, on the B. & A. Rail- 
road, was incorporated, six miles square, in May, 1660. Westboro and Northboro were 
subsequently set off from the oriarinal town. The Indian name of the town was Akommak- 
mesit, and in its early days the town was subject to attacks by the savatres and a fort was 
built for the protection of the settlers in times of danerer. Marlboro has now grown to be 
a smart mannfacturinsr town of 16,000 inhabitants. Tbousrh hilly the land is fine, the 
scenery beautiful and the points of historic interest numerons. 

t Westboro, adjoininar, has also become a factory town of over 5,000 people with font 
trolley lines and B. & A. Railroad to Boston. The valley is level, surrounded by hills, and 
it is claimed to be " the most beautiful villaGre in the state." The State Insane Asylum is 
located here and other public institutions and many beautiful residences. 



FAMILY REGISTER 9 

and later became part of Northboro. Near by, about a mile from 
the village and near the junction of the Marlboro and Westboro 
roads is an old abandoned burial ground, where doubtless rest 
the remains of our ancestor, and where the monument of his 
father-in-law, Adam Holloway, is still to be seen. 

Nathaniel's children were put under the guardianship of Jona- 
than Forbush, who had lived for some time on the Oak farm 
and to whom part of it had been deeded earlier, though some of 
them later chose Joseph Wheeler and William Holloway, other 
kinsmen on their mother's side. As they grew up the oldest son 
occupied the homestead and the others settled on farms in the 
vicinity. Only one spent his whole life in the town ; but only one, 
Jonathan (8), ever left what is now Worcester county. 



SECOND GENERATION. 

II. CHILDREN OF NATHANIEL I. AND MARY HOL- 
LOWAY. 

2. Nathaniel. Bolton, Mass. ; farmer ; born Marlboro, June 7, 
1704; married first, February 20, 1727; married second, June 
7, 1736; died probably (possibly his wife) June 5, 1783. First 
wife Tabitha Rice, daughter of Edward and Lydia (Fairbanks), 
born March 6, 1706; died before 1736. Second wife, Keziah May- 
nard, daughter of David and Hannah; born July 10, 1703; died 
about 1794 (or 1783) ; six children (10-15). 

Nathaniel^ lived on the old home farm, where all his children 
but one were born, until 1745. He held such minor positions as 
highway surveyor and tithing man, 1736-42. In 1740 with Capt. 
James Eagar and others he "perambulated" the boundary be- 
tween Westboro and *Bolton. In 1745 with his wife and five chil- 
dren he settled in Bolton, buying a farm on Long Hill, where he 
spent the rest of his life. In 1781 he and his wife, being "aged 
and poor" the income of his son Beriah's estate was left to the 

* Bolton, a farmine town on the Nashua River, 31 miles west of Boston, was set off 
from Lancaster in 1738. The B. & M. and N. Y. N. H. & H. Railroads run either side of it 
four miles away. A Concord coach carries the mail and Bolton remains a typical New 
Ensrland town of the old type, with two churches, 106 pupils in the public school and 745 
inhabitants. It abounds in fine scenic views and is attractinir attention as a residence 
section. 



10 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

widow for their support. One of the two died in 1783 and the 
other before 1795, when the estate was distributed. His regis- 
tered descendants number about 2,500. 

3. William. Marlboro, Mass.; born February 18, 1706; died 
unmarried August 8, 1723. He was at work as carpenter's ap- 
prentice, with five other workmen, on a new house for Capt. John 
Keyes in Shrewsbury. The job was completed when the men 
retired for the night ; but in the night the house took fire and 
only one man (Ebenezer Bragg) saved his life, the others includ- 
ing the Oak boy were overcome by the smoke and their bodies 
were burned. An account of the disaster by Rev. Mr. Breck was 
published in the Boston Letter. 

4. Hannah, Marlboro, Mass.; born December 27, 1707; mar- 
ried about 1728; died March 3, 1807, aged ninety-nine. Husband, 
Gershom Fay, Jr. Her descendants and those of her two sisters 
are not registered in this work; but one of them, *Orlin P. Fay 
of Vermontville, Mich., had in 1896, 7,000 names in the Fay fam- 
ily, doubtless including most of Hannah's descendants. Her 
children were: Gershom, born 1729; Thaddeus, 1731 ; Dinah, 
1733; Adam, 1736; Joseph, 1738; David, 1741 ; Hannah, 1743; 
Millicent, 1746. 

5. Mary. Marlboro, Mass.; born March 31, 1710; married 
February 20, 1735; died April 4, 1805; age ninety-five. Husband, 
Daniel Maynard; born March 16, 1692; died January i, 1760; 
children: Lucy, born 1735; Daniel, 1737; Labilla, 1739; William, 
1743; Jedediah, 1745; Elihu, 1748; Mary, 1751. 

6. Ann. Marlboro, Mass.; born September 9, 1712; married 

about 1735; died . Husband, David Maynard; born January 

20, 1705, brother of Keziah (2) ; F. E. Blake, of Boston, has regis- 



* Orlin P. Fay, the ^•nealosrist of the Fay family, was a descendant of Hannah (Oak) 
Fay, in the fourth treneration; born in Prattsburgh, Stenben County, N.Y., Sept. 13. 1820— 
married, April 19, 1851. Laura Bridges, born in Williamstown, Mass. He was raised on a 
farm where there were "ten ttones to one dirt," as he expresses it. Makiner the most of 
the scanty school privilesres then afforded, at the asre of 21 he left the farm and for many 
years cniraeed in any mechanical work that offered, developintr the same industry, adap- 
tability and reliability that characterized his cousins of the same generation of the "Oak" 
family, Dec. 24, '61, he enlisted in Company E, 101st N. Y. Vol. Inf.— wa« mustered in a* a 
musician, playing the part of solo alto. Owinir to sickness he was discharged for disability 
June 12. 1862. In 1869 Mr. Fay moved to Vermontville, Mich , where he made shovel han- 
dles for the noted firm of Oliver Ames & Sons, and the failure of that firm carried him 
down with it. Fortunately he obtained a pension which brisrhtened his later days. Mr. 
Orlin P. Fay died January 10, 1904, leaviuer an enviable record. His two sons died before 
reachlne manhood. His widow survive* him. His ffenealocrical work then in print waa 
turned over to his brother, W. C. Fay, Woodbury, Mich., from whom copies can be purchased. 



FAMILY REGISTER 11 

tered the Maynards, including the two Oak branches. Children: 
Jemima, 1736; Solomon, 1739; David, 1741 ; Leviniah, 1743; Levi, 
1745; Ann, 1747; Hannah, 1750; Abigail, 1751. 

7. John. Westboro, Mass. ; farmer ; born Marlboro, March 
16, 1715; married November 2 (or 3), 1742; died September, 1752. 
Wife, Susanna Allen, daughter of Ephraim^ and Susanna (Bea- 
con) ; born, 1723; married second, 1754, John Butler; died May 6, 
1814, age ninety-one. Five children (16-20). John^ Oak bought 
a farm and built a house on it; the place, known later as the 
"Gasset Place," and owned in 1897 by George Smith, is about 
two miles north of Northboro village and a portion of the old 
house is thought to be included in the newer one. John was a pros- 
perous farmer, being in 1749 one of the fifteen largest taxpayers 
in town, and the appraisement of the estate in 1752 being £396, 
but he died at the early age of thirty-seven, when the children 
were very young; and nothing respecting him has been handed 
down through the son and daughter who alone lived to maturity. 
His descendants number about 1200. All in the male line have 
retained the name "Oak" in its original form. There was an- 
other John Oaks of Sunderland and Petersham, erroneously iden- 
tified with our John by some writers — the error resulting in no 
little confusion and wasted labor. The widow had six children 
by her second husband, born in Shrewsbury. In 1766 the family 
removed to Winchester, N. H. 

8. Jonathan. Skowhegan, Maine ; carpenter and farmer ; born 
Marlboro, Mass., August 21, 1717; married first about 1740; mar- 
ried second 1749 (intention January 19) ; married third about 
1751 ; married fourth April 23 (or 26), 1762; died 1784 (will 
dated December 2, 1784, probated March 12, 1785). First wife, 
Rebecca Barnard, daughter of Robert and Rebecca (Osgood) ; 
born probably at death of her mother, July, 1727, but possibly 
September 10, 1725; died before 1748; two children. Second wife, 
Elizabeth Wheeler, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (descend- 
ant of Capt. Thomas, who led the Concord company in Philip's 
War, 1675-6, born February 15,1727; died November 23, 1750; 
one child. Third wife, Sarah Wheeler, sister of Elizabeth ; born 
August 23, 1733; died May 22, 1761 ; five children. Fourth wife, 
Abigail Rand, daughter of John and Abigail (Whitney) ; born 
November 14, 1736; died Sangerville, Maine, 1813; eight chil- 
dren. In all, sixteen children (21-36). 



12 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

Captain Jonathan Oaks, for so he wrote the name in later life, 
being the first of the family to change the form — was the most 
enterprising and successful of the brothers. He was a land-owner 
in Westboro, 1738-9; was dismissed with wife from the Marlboro 
church, 1741 ; a "housewright" of Bolton, 1744; and a resident of 
Stow, 1745-9. Then he sold his possessions in those towns and 
bought for £1600 a farm of 112 acres on Bare Hill (or Oak Hill as 
it was also called from the large trees there growing) in Harvard. 
Here he built a house — largely from materials taken from other 
buildings torn down by him in the practice of his craft — which 
was still standing in good repair in 1896, owned by Andrew Mc- 
Neff. In 1750-70 he is named frequently in various records of 
town and church — though apparently not a church member; 
served as juryman, constable, tithingman, surveyor of hoops, 
highway surveyor, and tax collector. From about 1766 he was 
known colloquially and in official records as "Captain," having 
doubtless been chosen captain of the training band. This would 
indicate service in the French-Indian wars ; indeed the family tra- 
dition, several times appearing in print — is that he fought with 
Wolf at Quebec, and was employed to make the fallen hero's 
coffin. There is no reason to doubt that this was founded on his 
own statement and is true; but no official record of his military 
service has been found by diligent research. There has been a 
prevalent idea that he was given, or promised, a large reward 
by the British government; and whenever in the early years any 
Oaks changed his residence so as to be lost track of by a portion 
of the family he was generally supposed to have somehow appro- 
priated more than his share of the bounty and gone to dwell in 
some very distant part of the world. In 1771 Capt, Oaks sold his 
Harvard property for £440 and obtained from the Kennebec Pur- 
chase Company a grant of land in Canaan, Maine, settling there 
with his family in 1772. His land was part of the site of the pres- 
ent city of Skowhegan, including an island in the Kennebec river 
that still bears his name. He was thus one of the first settlers ; 
and his son William was probably the first child born in Show- 
hegan. Though the owner of much land and a man trusted by 
everybody, yet having provided for many children at their mar- 
riage and the Continental currency being worthless, he was hard 
pressed for money in Revolutionary times, as were his heirs for 
some time after his death ; his estate being appraised at only £219. 
Moreover for several years before his death he was totally blind, 



FAMILY REGISTER 13 

and perhaps never saw his youngest child. According to tradi- 
tion he had by his four wives twenty-four children but this is 
of doubtful accuracy ; and at any rate only sixteen lived to be 
named in his will of 1784 — on file in Wiscasset and printed in the 
Lincoln County Probate Records. His estate was left to his sons 
Solomon and Levi with provision for the minor children, and 
five shillings for each of the nine already provided for. The old- 
est three daughters never came to Maine; the oldest son disap- 
peared; and the rest remained for some years — some permanent- 
ly — in the region of Skowhegan. In 1806-8 several of them set- 
tled in Sangerville, Piscataquis county, and others in other parts 
of the state, where their descendants are still very numerous. 
Over 5,000 of Captain Jonathan's descendants have been regis- 
tered. 

9. George. Rutland, Mass ; clothier and farmer ; born West- 
boro, Feb. 15. 1720; married first October 23 (or 26) 1744; mar- 
ried second June 12 (or 13) 1765; died after 1777. First wife, 
Lydia Eagar, daughter of Captain James and Tabitha (Howe) ; 
born May 15, 1723; died September 10, 1758; six children (37-42). 
Second wife, Mercy Bartlett, daughter of Ensign Daniel and 
Martha (Howe); born May 31, 1730; two children (43-44). 
George Oak lived in Westboro on the farm now known as the 
"Wesson Place," owned by one of the firearm's firm, and one of 
the finest places in that region. As early as 1769 — and by the 
town record of "Warnings" in 1763, though that would seem 
an error — he settled in * Rutland. He had served in the colonial 
wars, being mustered into service September 25, 1755, for the 
Crown Point expedition; enlisting again April 2, 1759; and serv- 
ing as ensign 1762 in Captain Jonathan Fay's company.. .In the 
Revolution he is named in a company of Rutland minute men at 
the Lexington alarm, 1775 ; and he enlisted August 20, 1777, in the 
company of Captain David Bent, marching to Bennington. Thus 
all his descendants are entitled to membership in both Colonial 
and Revolutionary societies. After 1777 absolutely nothing is 
known of the old veteran; of his children by the second wife 
nothing is known beyond the Rutland church record of their 



* Rutland— Worcester County, Mass. This town, located on the Ware River. 52 miles 
west from Boston, on the B. and M. Railroad, was purchased from the Indians in 1668. 
The Indian name was Nazna^. The settlers suffered severely from the Indians in the 
colonial days. The land lies hig-h and dry amoner the hills and is a natural health resort. 
and here is located a sanatorium for the cure of consumption. Farming- is now the chief 
occupation and the town has a population of 1740. 



14 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

baptism; and of the other children we have the descendants of 
only one — Sylvanus, about 700 in number. 



THIRD GENERATION. 

III. CHILDREN OF NATHANIEL' AND TABITHA 

RICE. 

ID. William. Winchendon, Mass. ; farmer ; baptized West- 
boro, April 28, 1728; married Bolton, March (or May) 27, 1752; 
died 1774. Wife, Relief Whitcomb, daughter of William and 
Hepzibah (Sawyer) ; born Lancaster, February 29, 1736. She 
married second, April 4, 1783, Samuel Patrick (properly Fitz- 
patrick) a prosperous farmer and town-clerk of Fitzwilliam, N. H. 
by whom she had no children. They lived in Jaffrey from 1809; 
he died August 6, 1817, aged (89) ; and she died in Fitzwilliam 
April 27, 1824 (or 19) ; nine children (45-53). 

William Oak received at marriage a small legacy from his 
grandmother Rice; and his wife inherited some property from 
her father. In 1757 he removed from Bolton to Narragansett 
No. 6 (Templeton) where he bought a farm of 80 acres, adding 
other tracts later. From April 7, 1759, sending his family to 
Bolton, he served 10 months and 28 days against the French and 
Indians in the company of Capt. Samuel Clark, Col. Ruggles. 
His services entitle all his descendants to membership in the 
Colonial Societies. In 1763-4 he sold his Templeton property for 
£160, and bought for £104 a farm in Ipswich, Canada, later 
*Winchendon, where he was one of the early settlers. His farm 
was on both sides of Miller's River; and his house "east of the 
bridge and long causey, where Phineas Ball now lives" (1849), 

* Winchendon. Worcester County, Mass. Reached by the B. & M. and B. & A. Rail- 
roads. Lies 68 miles westerly from Boston in the north central part of the State. This 
place was formerly "Ipswich Canada" because most of the srrantees were soldiers or 
descendants of soldiers who had served in an expedition to Canada in 1690. It was incor- 
porated as Winchendon in 1735. It« growth was retarded by the French and Indian wars. 
It is now a manufacturinsr town of 6,000 people. The country is hilly, soil deep thousrh 
rocky and the scenery beautiful. 



FAMILY REGISTER 15 

as we learn from Hyde's Hist. Winchendon. By reason of failing 
health and financial troubles he sold 1767-72 to Kinsmen and 
others all his land except the home lot. which also the family 
had to give up after his death, as the estate proved insolvent. 
Among his literary treasures as shown by the inventory was 
"Mr. Miller's Sermon on the Totel Reduction of Canada" — re- 
calling his experience in the French war. His descendants num- 
ber about 500. Name "Oaks" and "Oakes." 

II. Seth. Athens, Vt., carpenter and farmer; born Westboro, 
Mass., April 8, 1733; married Bolton, May 25, 1757 (inten. Sep- 
tember 13, 1756) ; died Townshend, Vt., about 1814 (or probably 
April 24, 1810. Wife, Elizabeth Shevally of Stow, Mass.; seven 
children (54-60). 

Capt. Seth Oak — so known for his military service as was the 
custom of the time, though never a commissioned officer — was of 
Col. Oliver Wilder's regiment of horse from Bolton, mus- 
tered September 27, 1755. In 1759-60 he also served in the army, 
his family meanwhile living in Harvard, perhaps with his uncle 
Jonathan. On his return he lived for a while in Templeton ; and 
with his brother William settled in Winchendon 1763-4, buying 
a part of his brother's land 1767-70. His house, later occupied 
by Eben Arnold, "was west of the bridge and long causey." At 
the Lexington alarm of 1775 he served 14 days as sergeant in 
Capt. Hale's company, Col. Sparrowhawk; in May, 1775, he was 
of Capt. Wilder's company, Col. Doolittle, and in October-De- 
cember was quartermaster sergeant at Winter Hill. As early as 
1763, Lunenburg, Vt., was chartered to a company of which Seth 
Oak was a member. Traditionally he became disgusted with 
his grant before reaching it, and sold out for a glass of grog! In 
the fall of 1779, however, he left Winchendon for the Vermont 
wilderness, and with Jonathan Perham and Ephraim Holden built 
a log cabin in Athens, to which they brought their families in the 
spring of 1780. Seth and two of his sons were original grantees 
of the town; his daughter Polly was the first child born in 
Athens; and some of his descendants still live near the site of the 
first cabin. The farm was that occupied in 1900 by Daniel Wil- 
cox, just south of the brick church. In 1784 Seth's military zeal 
was again utilized in a militia force called out by the Sheriff. He 
spent his last years in Townshend with his daughter, Mrs. Wis- 



16 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

well, appearing on the tax-list there in 1810. His descendants 
number about 800. All three forms of the name appear. 



III. CHILDREN OF NATHANIEL' AND KEZIAH 

MAYNARD. 

12. Tabitha. Westminster, Vt. ; born Westboro, Mass., Sep- 
tember 2 (or 12), 1737; married Bolton, December 11, 1765; died 
March 22, 181 1 (or at age of 80?). Husband, David Stiles, of 
Boxford, Mass.; seven children (231-7). 

About 100 of Tabitha's descendants have been registered ; but 
the record is very imperfect. The published Stiles Genealogy 
contains but little on this branch ; and members have not seemed 
disposed to give much information. 

13. Nathaniel. Bolton, Mass.; Born Westboro, January 12, 
1742. Probably died young. Nothing is definitely known be- 
yond the record of his birth. He may possibly have been the 
Nathaniel who bought land in Winchendon 1767 seq. ; and he may 
have served an enlistment in the Revolution, it being impossible 
in these matters to distinguish between him and his cousin (20) 
and nephew (55) of the same name. He was not living in Bolton 
1773, because his cousin was then known as Nathaniel ]r. It is 
deemed improbable in any case that he left descendants. 

14. Beriah. Bolton, ^Tass., farmer ; born Westboro November 
22, 1743; married December 31. 1767; died 1782, (will probated 
February 28, 1783. Wife, Tabitha Fosket; born 1744; died Sep- 
tember 16. 1820. In Shay's Rebellion, when neighbors were hid- 
ing their weapons, she declared (traditionally) that she would 
break her gun on the rebels' heads! Nine children (61-69). 

Beriah Oak served at the Lexington Alarm 1775, in Captain 
Longley's company. Colonel Whitcomb, being discharged April 
14, after 10 days' service. He also served later, before June 26, 
and may have been at Bunker Hill. He was a prosperous man ; 
but died before the age of 40. The income of his estate was left 
for the support of his aged parents ; and the estate was distributed 
in 1795 after their death. His children and grand-children were 



FAMILY REGISTER 17 

nearly all workers in wood as well as farmers. It was said that 
an Oaks' house could be recognized by the chips and shavings ; 
and this was largely true of other branches as well. We have 
about 800 of Beriah's descendants — the largest branch in the male 
line. In the name they are about equally divided between "Oaks" 
and "Oakes." 

15. Mindwell. Acton, Vt. ; born Bolton, Mass., March 23, 
1746; married March (or April) 10, 1766; died November 22, 
1826. Husband, Caleb Gates, of Stow, son of John and Mary; 
born, July 14, 1751 ; three children (192-4). 

The children were born in Stow, Mass. The family became 
pioneer settlers of Johnson's Gore, later known as Acton 1801-41 
now part of Townsend, Vt. The Gates farm was later known 
as the Dennis Holden Place ; and in igoo was owned by Mrs. 
Richard Hewes. This is one of the smaller branches of the Oaks 
tribe; but the record is nearly complete with about 150 names. 



III. CHILDREN OF JOHN' (7) AND SUSANNA ALLEN. 

All born in Westboro, Mass. 

16. Hannah, Born July 20, 1743; died September 16, 1745. 

17. Levinah. Born May 23, 1745 ; living 1754, but died young. 

18. Elijah. Born April 27, 1747; died December i, 1750. 

19. Hannah. Winchester, N. H. ; born Westboro, Mass., 
April 20, 1749; married first, June 17, 1768; married second, 
November 18, 1783; died April 13, 1838. First husband, Seth^ 
Alexander, farmer, son of Eliass and Ruth (Harmon) ; born 1746; 
died December 10, 1780. He was a sergeant 1775-6 in Capt. Wm. 
Humphreys' company, and ensign June, 1777, in Capt, Oliver 
Capron's company, marching to the relief of Ticonderoga; eight 
children (145-152). Second husband, John Follett, farmer; son of 
John4 and Rachel (Stevens) ; born Attleboro, Mass., March 5, 



18 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

1752; died February 16, 1821. A Revolutionary soldier and later 
captain of militia; six children (186-191). 

Hannah^ Oak went with her mother and step-father, John 
Butler, to Shrewsbury, Mass., 1754, and to Winchester, N. H., 
1766. Her registered descendents — the record being practically 
complete — number over 700. Dr. Alexander left at his death a 
complete genealogy of the first family; and the late Judge David 
Follett, of Norwich, N. Y., had nearly completed the record of 
the Folletts, a pamphlet containing the early generations having 
been printed by him. Strangely no knowledge or tradition of her 
family was possessed in my own branch — descended from her 
only brother — Nathaniel — though the two lived for a time in 
Winchester. I have over 600 of her descendants, who in charac- 
ter and culture seem to excel the average of most other branches. 
Possibly, however, I am prejudiced by the promptness and 
courtesy with which as a rule they have responded to my appeals 
for information. I find it hard to resist a division of our tribe 
into folks of two classes — the good who answer my queries, and 
the bad who will not reply. 

20. Nathaniel. Chelsea, Vt., hotel-keeper; born Westboro, 
Mass., May 16, 1751 ; married first, Bolton, June 2 (or 20), 1773; 
married second about 1804; died Exeter, Me., March 15, 1940. 
First wife, Susanna Hastings, daughter of Capt. Benjamin and 
Abigail (Sawtell) ; born Bolton, Mass., February 11, 1748; died 
Chelsea, Vermont, about 1803. She was a woman for whom her 
children had an unusually strong afifection and reverence ; and 
the name of Hastings has been preserved in many branches of 
her descendents. She was a good singer, a favorite pupil of 
Billings, the famous New England teacher and composer; nine 

children (70-78). Second wife, Elizabeth (widow Gates) ; 

no children. After her husband's death she went from Exeter, 
Me., to live with relations in Castleton, Vt., and died before 1848. 

Nathaniel^ Oak, losing his father when an infant, went with 
his mother to Shrewsbury, Mass., 1754; but from 1766, when she 
went to New Hampshire, and perhaps earlier, he lived with his 
uncle Nathaniel (2) in Boston, perhaps also spending some years 
in Winchendon with his cousins William (10) and Seth (11). At 
his marriage in Bolton, 1773, he was recorded as Nathaniel Jr., 
which at first led to error as to his identity. At the Lexington 
alarm of 1775 he served 12 days in the company of his father-in- 



FAMILY REGISTER 19 

law, Capt. Benjamin Hastings. Possibly he may have been the 
Nathaniel who served later enlistments (see 13-55). If so he 
sent his wife to Winchester, N. H., to live with his mother and 
sister, where he soon followed, where most of his children were 
born, and where in 1777-83 he bought in three lots 176 acres of 
land for £508. In 1790 he removed with his family to Chelsea, 
Vt., his home for half a century. There he kept a hotel in a 
building still standing (1900) the hall of which was long used as 
county court house, for town meetings, and for meetings of the 
Congregational church. Later he lived in a cottage, also still 
standing; served as pound-keeper and sexton; took great pride 
in his garden ; and worked as a carpenter at odd jobs, being, like 
all his tribe, "handy with tools." The large number of land 
transfers in his name would indicate that he indulged somewhat 
in real estate speculation. There are traditions of considerable 
wealth and of extreme poverty, both perhaps well founded, but 
exaggerated and referring to different periods of his life. In 
later years he spent some winters with his oldest son in Bos- 
cawen, N. H. ; and in 1839 went to live with a younger son in 
Exeter, Me. There on a Sunday in 1840 he died suddenly in 
church at the age of 89. He was a man of robust physique and of 
jovial temperament, as befitted a landlord ; well known and liked 
wherever he lived ; in religion an active Methodist, but at home 
in the meetings of any denomination. His descendants number 
about 500. Name always "Oak." 



III. CHILDREN OF JONATHAN' (8) AND REBECCA 

BARNARD. 

21 Mary. Ashburnham, Mass.; born Marlboro (or Bolton) 
July 16, 1741; married Harvard, March 14, 1758; from Middle- 
boro to Ashburnham 1776; died September 13, 1794. 

She died at a funeral in church and was carried home on the 
bier provided for the occasion. Her descendants number 1200. 
the largest branch of the tribe, though the record in some lines 
is far from complete. Husband, Jonathan^ Sampson, son of PelegJ 
and a lineal descendant of Capt. Miles Standish of the "May- 



20 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

flower;" born October 25, 1733; he married second August 2, 
1796, Sarah Osburn; moved to Swanzey, N. H., 1802; died, 1820. 
He was a prominent citizen ; proprietor and treasurer of Dor- 
chester Canada (Ashburnham) ; selectman, etc; 13 children (216- 
228). The Sampson genealogy furnishes but slight information 
in our branch. 

It is notable that genealogies have been published for the fam- 
ilies of Capt. Jonathan Oak's three oldest daughters — Sampson, 
Conant and Bigelow. 

22. Lydia. Ashburnham, Mass.; born Stow, June 6, 1743; 
married November 29, 1766 (or Nov. 19, 1767, Bible) ; died Bran- 
don, Vt., January 2 (or 4), 1802. Husband, Ebenezer Conant, 
farmer and miller, son of Ebenezer and Ruth (Pierce) ; born 
August II, 1743; died August 3, 1783; 7 children (167-173). 

Lydia3 Oak probably lived for some years with her great 
grandfather Barnard in Stow — possibly a case of too much step- 
mother; at least she was "warned" from Stow in June, 1762, 
though she was not a woman likely to become a burden to any 
town. It was a common formality. She is described as a woman 
of great force and business ability. Her husband served through 
the Revolution as lieutenant and adjutant; and during his ab- 
sence, with the aid of a young son, she carried on his grist-mill. 
Ebenezer Conant was a descendant of the famous Roger of Salem, 
virtually first governor of Massachusetts. He served as select- 
man, etc., and was joint author with his son of certain theological 
manuscript, extant in 1868. Lydia's descendants probably include 
a greater number of professional and prominent people than any 
other of the Oak branches. Her descendants number 541. The 
excellent Conant Genealogy has but 150. 

23. Elizabeth, Crown Point, N. Y. ; baptized Harvard, Mass., 
November 25, 1752; married, Ashburnham, Mass., September 11, 

1770; died . Husband, Nathan Bigelow, son of John and 

Grace (Allen) ; born Weston, Mass., November 8, 1743; died 1804 
(or 1824) ; 10 children (153-163). 

The published Bigelow Genealogy throws but little light on 
this branch. About 650 descendants have been registered, many 
still living in the region of Crown Pomt and Ticonderoga. They 
include a Chief Justice of Nevada, R. R. Bigelow, and a Con- 
gressman from California, Hon. J. C. Needham, besides several 
members less distinguished. The family went to Vermont before 



FAMILY REGISTER 21 

1784 and to New York before 1787. Elizabeth had a brother who 
died in infancy, 1749. 



III. CHILDREN OF JONATHAN^ (8) AND SARAH 

WHEELER. 

24. Sarah. Born* Harvard, Mass., January 12, 1752; "owned 
ye covenant and was baptized at her own desire" September 22, 

1771 ; married 1771 ; died . Husband, William Blackden; 

3 children (164-166). 

Practically no record of her descendants has been found. The 
family came to Maine. Three of four have been heard from, but 
decline to give details. The name has usually been written Blag- 
den in later years. 

25. Jonathan. Stow, Mass.; born about 1754. All that is 
known of him is that he was named in his father's will of 1784 
as the oldest son, with a legacy of 10 shillings "if he ever comes 
back to this place." John Conant (169) also remembered him as 
visiting his sister Lydia in Ashburnham about 1773-80. He 
doubtless disappeared in Revolutionary times, and was never 
heard of. The writer, like other genealogists, long confounded 
him with another Jonathan in Worcester county. 

26. Rebecca. Born at Harvard, Mass., about 1756. Known 
only by mention in her father's will of 1784, and then apparently 
married. No clew to her descendants. 

27. John. Exeter, Me.; carpenter and farmer; born, Harvard, 
Mass., October 22, 1757 (or '58) ; married about 1780; died June 
25, 1842. Wife, Abigail Lambert, probably sister of Sherebiah, 
who married his sister Millie (31) ; died, 1844, age 85; 8 children 
(79-86). 

John Oaks served 5 years — four enlistments or more — in the 
Revolution, being much employed as a scout, taking part at Ben- 
nington and many other battles, and once being sent by General 

* Harvard, Worcester County, Mass. This well known town was incorporated in 1732 
and named in honor of Rev. John Harvard, founder of Harvard College. It is a hilly town- 
ship, but with productive soil. It is located on a branch of the B. & M. Railroad, 28 miles 
west of Boston and is noted for beantif ul scenery as well as for its college and as a summer 
resort. 



22 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

Washington from Long Island to Quebec. There are many dates 
and details — somewhat confused — in the Massachusetts Archives 
and his pension petitions. He received a pension from the U. S., 
and a land grant of 200 acres from the State of Maine. After the 
war he returned to Canaan, Me., where in 1793 he sold his half- 
interest in a saw-mill; was of Lisbon, 1803; lived for some years 
in Palmyra ; and about 1812 went to Bangor, where he built some 
of the old structures, and with his son John was "a prisoner of 
war" in 1814 (War of 1812). In 1819 he settled on a farm in 
South Exeter, still known as Oak's Hill, where he died at the age 
of 85. Though somewhat fond of his grog, as was proper for an 
old soldier, he was a zealous Baptist, and meetings were often 
held in his barn. He was noted for his fund of Revolutionary 
anecdotes, with which he enlivened even his religious exhorta- 
tions. The old veteran was widely known and well liked ; obitu- 
aries were published in the Bangor papers ; and Lines on the 
Death of John Oaks are found in the works of the Maine poet, 
David Barker. His descendants number over 1,050, and are 
numerous in eastern and norther Maine. Name "Oaks" and 
"Oakes." 

28. Daniel. Wiscasset, Me. "Cordwainer" ; born Harvard, 
Mass., about 1760-1 (19 years old in 1780) ; married first at Marl- 
boro, September 9, 1783; married second before 1797; married 
third before 1801 ; died perhaps 1845; first wife. Morning Blin 
Flagg (probably Widow Flagg) ; 3 children ; second wife. Susan 

(known only by having signed deeds in 1797, possibly 

an error) ; no children ; third wife, Deborah Dorcas Albee (widow 
Fletcher); born Anson, Me., 1775; died February 22, 1857; 9 
children (87-95). 

Daniel Oaks was also a Revolutionary soldier, serving three 
enlistments, 1777-81, from Westboro and Bolton, Mass. He was 
of Canaan, Me., or owned property there, to 1804; yet most of his 
children seem to have been born in Wiscasset — where unfortu- 
nately no records are to be found, though the family is remem- 
bered. From about 1828 he lived in Boston. His descendants 
number 150. Name "Oakes." 



FAMILY REGISTER 23 

III. CHILDREN OF JONATHAN^ (8) AND ABIGAIL 

RAND. 

29. Lois. Skowhegan, Me. ; baptized Harvard, Mass., October 
23, 1763; married about 1793; died May 12, 1815. Husband, 
Dr. Willard Sears; died December 12, 1832, age (86?) ; 2 children 
(229-230). 

Possibly the Lois born 1763 died young, and the name was 
given to another born 1766, as the family say that she was aged 
49 at her death. The record of this branch was the first to be 
completed with 123 names. 

30. Levi. Sangerville, Me. ; farmer ; baptized Harvard, Mass., 
October 23, 1763, and apparently twin of Lois; married Canaan, 
Me., 1788; died 1831. Wife, Lydia Brown; died Wellington, Me., 
1849, age 82; 7 children (96-102). Levi went to Sangerville in 
1808, but later lived in Wellington. He died in "Aroostook," 
Me., while on a visit to his son. There are some 250 descendants 
of his daughters ; but those of his sons have not been found. 

31. Millie. Skowhegan, Me.; baptized Harvard, Mass., Sep- 
tember II, 1768; married, Canaan, Me. (intention) July 20, 1787; 
died, January 16, 1845. Husband, Sherebiah Lambert; died, May 
I, 1883; 10 children (206-215). 

Millie was a famous midwife in her day, presiding, it is said, 
at fifteen hundred births for a fee of one dollar each. Also a 
woman of some nerve, since on one occasion she rescued a pet calf 
from a bear that had seized it. About 250 of her descendants 
have been found, but the record is very incomplete. 

32. Solomon. Sangerville, Me. ; farmer ; born Harvard, Mass., 
May 9, 1769; baptized November 19, 1769; married, Canaan, Me., 
1786; died, Parkman, Me., January 24, 1857. Wife, Suzanna 
Clark; born March 3, 1767; died May, 1858; 13 children (103-115). 
Solomon was executor of his father's will, 1785 ; held minor town 
offices in Canaan to 1790; and settled in Sangerville, 1808. His 
home seems to have been on the island part of the Skowhegan 
farm, where most of his children were born. He went to Illinois 
in 1842 ; but returned to die in Maine. The last of his children 
died in 1892. Over 200 of his descendants are registered — the 
record being imperfect in some of the western lines. "Oaks" and 
"Oakes" were the forms of the name used. 

33. Sybil. Skowhegan, Me. ; baptized Harvard, Mass., No- 



24 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

vember 19, 1769; probably twin of Solomon; married about 
1796; died about 1845. Husband, Daniel Homsted, farmer; 11 
children (195-205). About 200 descendants. Record incomplete. 

34. Abel. Sangerville, Me.; farmer; born Harvard, Mass., 
April 10, 1771, (baptized August 11) ; married, Canaan, Me., No- 
vember 23, 1792; died December 21, 1856. 

He came to Maine at the age of one year; and to Sangerville 
1806-7. Wife Betsy Hamlin; born at Gorham, Me., May 22, 
1770; died, April 19, 1850. She was of the family of Hon. Han- 
nibal Hamlin; 12 children ( 1 16-127) ; about 600 descendants; 
record nearly complete. Name generally "Oaks." 

35. Elder William. Sangerville, Me. ; farmer and Baptist 
preacher; born at Canaan, Me., June 7, 1774 (or August, 1773) ; 
married first (intention) September 5,1793; married second about 
1836; died January 12 (or December 28), 1851. First wife, Susan 
Orr; born Harpswell, Me., 1773; died, April 10, 1833; 6 children. 
Second wife, Martha Morgridge; born February 3, 1797; died 
October 22, 1851 ; 2 children; in all 8 children (128-135). 

Elder William^ was probably the first child born in what is 
now Skowhegan, Me. He was ordained as a preacher in 181 5; 
deposed in 1821 ; and reinstated in 1826. He was a very handsome 
man and of marked ability ; but was inclined to "backslide" 
occasionally in matters of faith and practice, quarreling with 
the church — but both were always willing to be forgiven. A 
paralytic shock affected his mind in the last years. Record of 
descendants complete with 125 names. One of his daughters 
was living in 1898. Name "Oakes." 

36. Lucy. Sangerville, Me. ; born at Canaan, Me., December 
27 (or 22), 1776; married, Topsham, Me., October 7, 1797; died 
December 27, 1852. Husband, David Douty; died November 2, 
1858; 12 children (174-185). One daughter living in 1898. 



FAMILY REGISTER 25 

III. CHILDREN OF GEORGE^ (9) AND LYDIA EAGAR. 

37. Lucy. Born, Westboro, Mass., January 9, 1745; married, 
Charlton, Mass., 1770; died — . Husband, Jonas Eddy. 

Of the descendants of Lucy and her sisters nothing has been 
learned. 

38. Lydia. Andover, Mass. Born, Westboro, August 

19, 1746; married, November 6, 1766 (int. October 3) ; died . 

Husband, Jonathan Cummings of Andover. (Name possibly 
Comins). In 1771 she was reported as "out of the province in 
parts unknown." 10 children (173-a-j). 

39. Sylvanus. *Coleraine, Mass. ; clothier ; born, Westboro, 
March 30, 1749; married, Rutland, Mass., November 25 (or De- 
cember 3), 1771 ; died about 1800. Wife, Abigail Ball; born May 
18, 1752; died May 21, 1808; 8 children (136-144). 

Sylvanus3 Oak in 1771 bought of Nathaniel Waite for £160 a 
fulling-mill and clothier's shop in Princeton, Mass. He lived also 
in Holden, where some of his children were born. He served 12 
days, from April 20, 1775, at the Lexington alarm, in the com- 
pany of Captain Sargent, marching from Rutland to Cambridge. 
After the war he sold out his Princeton property, took his pay 
in Continental money, and lost it all. He lived subsequently in 
Coleraine*, dying, it is said, across the line in Vermont; but 
there is nothing definite as to place or date. His registered de- 
scendants number over 600. Several branches are missing. In 
some lines the name "Oak" is retained. 

40. Asa. Born January 15, 1751 ; died same day. 

41. Vashti. Born April 19, 1754; married, Holden, Mass., 
March 6, 1777. Husband, Moses Ball. 

42. Thankful. Born May 19, 1758; living, 1771. 



* Colerain, Franklin County, Mass., was incorporated in 1761. It was largrely settled 
by Irish emigrants and is said to have been named in honor of Lord Colerain. It Is beau- 
tifully situated at the junction of the forks of North River, and the natural scenery pos- 
sesses great attractions. Colerain is 125 miles northwesterly from Boston, and is reached 
by electric cars from Shelburn Falls, six miles away. It is a great cotton manufacturing- 
town, maintainiugr three mills, has fine churches, schools and a Memorial Hall. In the 
early days it was g-uarded by three forts and was subject to Indian attacks. 



26 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

III. CHILDREN OF GEORGE (9) AND MERCY BART- 
LETT. 

43. Martha. Baptized, Rutland, Mass., November 3, 1769. 

44. Jesse. Baptized June 23, 1771. 



FOURTH GENERATION. 

IV. CHILDREN OF WILLIAM' (10) AND RELIEF 

WHITCOMB. 

The Oaks of the fourth generation numbered 100. The earliest 
birth was 1753; the latest death was 1897. Two only survive in 
1898. Two (Nos. 135 and 185) and the other living when 
this work was begun gave me directly or indirectly considerable 
information. Personally I have known in childhood only five of 
the number, of whom four were of my own branch of the family. 
While most of them lived and died like their fathers in the four 
New England states of Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire 
and Vermont, about one-fourth of the number made their homes 
in other states, as follows, in order of the number settling in 
each : New York, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Virginia, 
South Carolina, Rhode Island, Iowa, California and New Bruns- 
wick. 

45. William. Winchendon, Mass. ; born Bolton, November 
18, 1753; died April 9, 1771. He was drowned in the spring flood 
of Miller's River, near his home and in sight of his mother. 
Robert Moflfat was in the boat with him, and the two lads were 
buried side by side in the Old Central Burying Ground. 

46. Kezia. Bridgewater, N. Y. ; born Bolton, Mass., July 
28, 1756. Husband, Samuel Blood; one child (Rebecca) and prob- 
ably others. They are said to have belonged to a Shaker com- 
munity in Massachusetts before settling in New York. 

47. Relief, Born at Bolton (or Templeton) 1758; died De- 
cember 23, 1758. 

48. Thankful. Born October 12, 1760; died, Templeton, May 
22, 1764. 



FAMILY REGISTER 27 

49. Abigail. Fitzwilliam, N. H. ; born, Templeton, Mass., 
September. 1763; married, March 11, 1783; died, Winchendon, 
March 9, 1847. Husband, Nathaniel Wilson; died January 3, 
1817. He was one of the first settlers of Fitzwilliam ; no children. 
By Abigail's will the income of her estate was left to an adopted 
son of her husband and his descendants, the property to go finally 
to the town of Winchendon for the support of Sundays Schools. 
The last of the descendants dying in 1893, the town came into 
possession of the bequest. 

50. Hepzibah. Stamford, Vt. ; born, Winchendon, Mass., No- 
vember 2, 1764 (or Bolton, October 12, 1760 — perhaps another 

who died young) married first ; married second about 1798; 

died November 5. 1820. First husband, Washburn; no 

children; second husband, Ensign Timothy Cook, son of Noah 
and Keziah (Powers) of Hadley, Mass.; born February 6, 1757 
(or November 17, 1756); died, September 17, 1821 ; 4 children, 
Hepzibah, Andrew, Stephen, and Keziah. Hepzibah's son, mar- 
rying into the Oak tribe, she had many descendants in another 
branch — that of Beriah3 (14). 

51. Joel. Newbury, Ohio; farmer; born Winchendon, Mass., 
September i. 1767; married in Ohio about 1795; died December 
12, 1822. Wife, Susan Bent, daughter of Col. Silas, a prominent 
man and ancestor of several western celebrities ; born April 21, 
1773; died April 5, 1865; 7 children, Susan, Elizabeth, Daniel, 
Sumner, William, Charlotte, Lucy. 

Joel* Oaks went to Ohio in 1787 and took an active part in the 
various Indian wars, his services as scout being especially valued. 
He was with Gen. Putnam (1787-8) in the expedition to Musk- 
ingum (Marietta) ; settled at Newbury, below Belpre on land 
where had stood Col. Nye's blockhouse, being there in 1790 — ; at 
"Farmers' Castle," 1792; associated from 1794 with Griffith 
Grimes in salt enterprises and discovery of the Scioto salines. 
His old farm, in what is now Little Hocking, is occupied by his 
grandson, Silas (154). 

52. Abraham. Bridgewater, N. Y. ; farmer and trader ; born 
Winchendon, Mass., August 31 (or 15), 1770; married first, Jan- 
uary 31, 1791 ; married second, 1810; died May 8, 1844; first wife, 
Lois Gurley, daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Walker) ; born, 
Marshfield, Conn., March 10, 1764; died, July 17, 1809; 5 children, 



28 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

Mary, Relief, Lucinda, Samuel, Laura. Second wife, Rhoda 
Pierson (widow Luce); born 1776; 5 children, Lois, Harriet, 
Murilla, Abigail, Sarah. 

Abraham* Oaks went from Fitzwilliam, N. H., in 1791, to 
Whitestown, N. Y. In June of that year he leased from the In- 
dian Foncoit, land in Brotherton (Deansville), but probably did 
not take possession, as a little later he bought for £200 a farm in 
20th township (Sangerfield) from which Bridgewater was set off, 
where he spent the rest of his life. He held various town offices, 
especially in connection with the schools; and was an influential 
member of the Congregational church from 1804. The family 
lived on the farm to 1850; then in the village. For the record of 
William's descendants and those of his sisters, I am indebted al- 
most entirely to Rev. Wm. DeLoss Love of Hartford, Conn., a 
descendant of Abraham*. 

53. Ephraim. Bridgewater, N. Y. ; farmer; born Winchendon, 
Mass., March 9, 1773; died December 18, 1810. Wife, Margaret 

; no children. He bought 250 acres of land in 1796, and 

held minor town offices ; but was for many years in bad health. 



IV. CHILDREN OF SETH' (11) AND ELIZABETH 

SHEVALLY. 

54. Calvin. Athens, Vt. ; farmer and carpenter; born Bolton, 
Mass., September 12, 1758; married about 1780; died November 
10, 181 5. Wife, Lucretia Fuller, daughter of Edward of Leomin- 
ster; died September 19, 1854; 7 children, Betsy, Edward, Polly, 
Sally, Clarissa, Sophia, and Lovell H. 

Calvin* Oak (he and his brothers and some of the descendants 
so wrote the name) was like his father a Revolutionary soldier, 
serving 6 days at the Lexington Alarm in Capt. Hale's Co., Col. 



FAMILY REGISTER 29 

Sparhawk; re-enlisting April 26, 1775, in Capt. Wilder's company, 
and perhaps serving two other short enlistments, 1779-80. Of 
light complexion, height 5 feet 6 inches ; called "Captain" on his 
tombstone. He went to Athens 1780, and was one of the original 
proprietors. His farm was that now owned (1896) by George 
Swan, near the scythe-snath factory. 

55. Nathaniel. Athens, Vt. ; farmer; born Templeton (or 
Harvard) March, 1762; married about 1787; died March 25, 1830. 
Wife, Susanna Evans; died October 12, 1842, age 72; 10 children, 
Sally, Clarissa, Willard, Ebenezer, Sarah, Clarissa, Simeon, 
Nathaniel, William and Lucius. 

Nathaniel Oak was a Revolutioanry soldier, marching from 
Bolton, February 13, 1780, at the age of 18, under Captain Thomas 
Pritchard; height 5 ft. 7 in. There are four other brief enlist- 
ments in 1778-80 of a Nathaniel Oak, some of which were doubt- 
less of this man ; but by reason of his age, the existence of others 
of the name, and his supposed presence in Vermont 1780, there 
is much confusion. He was one of the proprietors of Athens, 
but perhaps did not go there with his father. According to 
Hemmenway's Historical Atlas of Vermont "Nath'l Oak wanted 
a certain bewitching beauty ; Amaziah Rockham wanted the be- 
witching beauty too. They had many quarrels over the lass, till 
at last the neighbors decided that they should fight for the prize. 
Rockham being a spry man, gave Oak, who was slow and clumsy 
at fighting, a sound whipping, but was so good hearted withal 
that, he said, 'Go and take the girl,' and Oak went and took her 
and lived with her long enough to twice claim a silver wedding." 

56. Saloma. "Sally," Townshend, Vt. ; born Winchendon, 
Mass., May 25. 1764; married about 1784; died May 8, 1835. Hus- 
band, Capt. Samuel Wiswell, son of Samuel. Held town offices, 
and was lieutenant of militia; 6 children: John, Polly, Samuel, 
Ebenezer, Sally and Seth. 

57. John. Athens, Vt. ; farmer; born Winchendon, Mass., 
July 31, 1766; married July 12, 1789. Wife, Lydia Chaffee; born 
March 22, 1771 ; went to Illinois with her son, and died October 
25, 1852; 9 children: Ezra, Susan, Lucy, John, Samuel, Amelia, 
Lydia, Fanny and Seth Squire. 

58. Thomas. Born Winchendon, July 6, 1768. Wife, Phebe 

; 4 children, viz: Ebenezer, Calvin, (a son), and 

Seth. The descendants in this line have not been found. 



30 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

59. Ebenezer. Athens, Vt. ; born January 12, 1771 ; died un- 
married, October 22, 1792. 

60. Polly. Townshend, Vt. ; born Athens, May, 1780; married 
before 1801. Husband. Jonas Whitcomb; born November 12, 
1777; 10 children: Polly, Sarah, Cynthia, Hulda, Luke, Hi- 
ram, Willard, Ansel, William and Eliza. Polly was the first 
child born in Athens. The record of her descendants is very in- 
complete. 



IV. CHILDREN OF BERIAH' (14) AND TABITHA 

FOSKET. 

61. John. Somerset, Vt. ; farmer and carpenter; born Bolton, 
Mass., March 30, 1768; married Bolton, December 12, 1793. Wife, 
Mary Eaton, daug-hter of Uriah of Sudbury ; 7 children, viz: Joel, 
Noyes, Beriah, Eliza, Eunice, Miary and Cynthia. John-* Oaks 
received a double share of his father's estate in 1795. He was 
an easy-going man with a pleasure-loving wife, and the children 
"brought themselves up," some of them not making a very good 
job of it. 

62. Elizabeth. Athol, Mass.; born Bolton, February 6, 1770. 
Husband, Abijah Woodward; 2 children, viz: Abijah and Rhoda. 

63. James. Bernardston, Mass.; farmer and carpenter; born 
at Bolton, October 30, 1771 ; married, Bolton, September 12, 1797; 
to Bernardston about 1825 ; died October 12, 1846. Wife, Sarah 
Walker, daughter of Thomas and Mary of Sudbury; died October 
26. 1846; 8 children: Maryliza, Amory (or Emory), Elmira, 
Thomas. Mary, Gardner, Albert and James. 

64. Abraham. Athol, Mass. ; farmer and carpenter; born Bol- 
ton, Marcli 29, 1773; married (intention) August 27, 1797; to 
Athol, 1805; died October 17, 1840. Wife, Joanna Walker, of 
Rindge, N. H., and Wilton, Me.; born April 19, 1775; died, No- 
vember 9, 1841, of consumption, bequeathing the tendency; 4 
children, viz: Ira, Phebe, Abigail and Abraham. The male line 
is destined to become extinct. This family was the first, outside 
of the writer's own branch, to be found. 



FAMILY REGISTER 31 

65. Asa. Landofif (Easton), N. H. ; farmer; born Bolton, 
Mass., December 6, 1774; married first about 1794; married sec- 
ond about 1834; died, 1856. He lived in Stow, Mass., for some 
years before settling in New Hampshire. First wife, Martha 
("Pattie") Robins; 6 children: Sophia, Charles, Frank, Asa; 
and Lincoln and Martha, who died young. Second wife, widow 
Stewart; no children. 

66. Daniel. Stanford, Vt. ; farmer ; born Bolton, Mass., June 
17, 1776; married June 24, 1800; died October 16, 1844 (or Octo- 
ber 23, 1845). Wife, Hepzibah Batchelder; born August 22, 
1778; died, October 27, 1858; 10 children: Asa, Luke, Mer- 
rick, Louisa, Mary, Adeline, Nancy. Daniel, Ephraim and An- 
drew. He lived in Athol, Mass., to 1808, and went from Clarks- 
burg to Vermont in 1816. He had more descendants, probably, 
than any other of his generation in the whole Oak family. 

67. Eunice. Berlin, Mass.; born Bolton, March 14, 1778; 
married first, October 25, 1809; married second, October 31, 1813 ; 
died May 2, 1846. First husband, Ebenezer Randal, of Stow; no 
children. Second husband, Hollis Johnson, of Berlin ; no 
children. An adopted son, Benjamin Johnson, had five children, 
one of whom is Mrs. John L. Stone of Hyde Park, Mass., author 
of the Stone Souvenir. 

68. Phebe. Stow, Mass.; born, Bolton, December 23, 1779; 
married June 18, 1800; died Fitchburg, October 11, 1848 (or April, 
1832). Husband, Samuel Danforth, Jr.; died, 1851 ; 7 children, 
as follows : Tabitha, Phebe, Octavius, Eunice, Clarissa, Fosket 
and Hollis. The record of this family is very incomplete. 

69. Beriah. Wendell, Mass. ; farmer and carpenter ; born Bol- 
ton, August 19, 1781; married, Marlboro, June 13, 1804; died, 
December 24, 1863. Wife, Eunice Ames; born March, 1787; died 
February 12, 1851 ; 8 children, namely: Fosket, Lucretia, Samuel, 
Miriam, Eunice. David, Wilbur, Elizabeth. All died young. 
Beriah4 Oakes, Jr., was a prominent Methodist, building at great 
sacrifice the First Methodist church in Wendell. None of his 
children had issue. 



32 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

IV. CHILDREN OF NATHANIEL' (20) AND SUSANNA 

HASTINGS. 

70. Benjamin Hastings. Garland, Me. ; hotel-keeper and 
farmer; born Winchester N. H., March 3, 1776; married Chelsea, 
Vt.. December 23, 1804; died April 26, 1842. Wife, Hannah 
Smith, daughter of Benjamin and Hannah of Walpole, N. H. ; 
born, 1779; died January, 1853; 8 children: William S., Susan 
H., Genett, Henry Laurens, Lyndon, Lorenzo, Lebbeus and Ed- 
son Lang. 

Benjamin^ Oak, on going to Vermont at the age of fourteen 
years, was a boy of remarkable physical strength ; but in a hay- 
field contest for charitable purposes he injured himself and was 
never a well man again. He served in the army for a year or 
two as a musician, being in 1799 "in the Second Regiment of Ar- 
tillerists and Engineers, stationed at New London, Conn." Leav- 
ing the army he became clerk in a store ; and probably engaged in 
business for himself, unfortunately, however, as insolvency pro- 
ceedings are recorded in 1808. He was town clerk of Chelsea 
1807-12, and member of the Vermont Legislature in 1810. In 
1812-26 he kept a hotel at Boscawen, N. H. Finally, failing busi- 
ness, bad health and excessive use of liquor effected his financial 
ruin. In September, 1826, he emigrated with family and house- 
hold effects in an old chaise and one-horse wagon to Exeter, 
Me., and in 1830 bought a farm in the adjoining town of Garland. 
In Maine, though the family had a hard struggle with poverty 
and the father never escaped the burden of debt, yet he became 
an esteemed and useful citizen, serving alternately as selectman 
and town treasurer to the last; an influential member of the Con- 
gregational church society, and often an arbiter of disputes be- 
tween townsmen. He abandoned his drinking habit, and brought 
up five sons who never used liquor nor tobacco. Not quite so 
much can be said for his grandsons, yet even they are often sober. 
Hannah, the wife, though a good woman and conscientious 
mother, was subject to great depression of spirits, and inspired 
more respect than affection. In all but blood the veritable 
mother of the children and one of the best friends of all the Oaks 
for three generations was her sister, "Aunt Sally," who lived in 
the family, latterly as housekeeper for Laurens, from the early 
days in New Hampshire, to her own death in 1862 at the age 
of 74. Of "Aunt Sally," Lyndon Oak, her nephew, writes : "She 



FAMILY REGISTER 33 

was blessed with a large share of happiness. In the blue days of 
the later years in Boscawen and the earlier years in Maine, when 
the chilling clouds of poverty hung heavily over us, the habitual 
hopefulness of Aunt Sally, and her strong faith in the coming of 
better days and her words of encouragement and cheer were a 
perpetual benediction to the children of the household — and when 
the better days came no one greeted them with keener satisfaction 
than Aunt Sally," My grandfather greatly regretted his lack of 
education. He was a great reader, considering his opportunities, 
and in Boscawen took an active part with the Webster family in 
building up the schools. His hotel in Boscawen was on the Merri- 
mac river, two miles above the later Fisherville, now Pennacook, 
the building, in 1894 a private dwelling, having been for many 
years used as a boarding house for the Elmwood Academy. The 
nearest neighbors were Ezekiel Webster, brother of Daniel, and 
family, a little above and across the road. One of the Websters 
still lives there and remembers the times of our grandfather, 
when, as he writes, "Capt. Oak, as he was known, was a noted, 
performer on the fife, and also a good player of the violin." When 
he was married he sold his violin to buy a cow. 

71, Susanna. Born Winchester, N. H., April 12, 1778; mar- 
ried Chelsea, Vt., 1798; died in Howard county, Indiana, March 
5, 1870, aged 91. Husband, Enoch Challis, son of Thomas* and 
Molly (French); born Salisbury, N. H., January 22, IJ74; died 
Boscawen, N. H., about 1816; i child, Josiah Edson.. Susanna 
as the oldest daughter, had much influence in molding the charac- 
ters of her brothers and sisters. In physique she was smaller 
than her sisters; she inherited her mother's musical taste, and 
bequeathed it to her son. 

Susanna lived in many places with her roving son, but spent 
ten years or more with the Oaks of Exeter and Garland, Me., 
where she endeared herself to all. She was a woman of strong 
character and attractive personality; but especially noted for her 
self-sacrificing efforts under unfavorable circumstances to give 
her only son an education. Her husband kept the Boscawen 
hotel in 1812, but then went into the army, returning with shat- 
tered health. 

72. Nathaniel. Exeter, Me. ; farmer and builder ; born Win- 
chester, N. H., February 9, 1780; married Lee, N. H., November 

3 



34 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

I, 1811 ; died September 24, 1851. Wife, Abigail Cartland, daug^h- 
ter of Elijah^ and Abigails (Scales) ; born Lee, N. H., December 
17, 1788; died August 18, 1866; 8 children, Eliza, Samuel, Abigail, 
Harriet, Nathaniel, George, Joseph and Mary. 

Nathaniel^ Oak left Chelsea, Vt., at the age of 18, with all his 
possessions hanging from a stick over his shoulder. Working on 
bridges and other structures in Portsmouth and Bangor, he at 
last came on a visit to his sister Abigail to Exeter, Me., v^here 
in 1810 he bought a farm in the wilderness, which he cleared and 
made his home for life. Physically he stood "six feet in his stock- 
ings." and was a model of athletic manhood. His character was 
equal to his physique; and his "luck" was proverbially not infe- 
rior to either. From the beginning he was a leading citizen, 
though never accepting public ofifice. He prospered as a man is 
likely to do who can do the work of three in field or forest, and 
has no bad habits ; and he became rich according to the standards 
of the time and region. Of unquestioned integrity, strict mor- 
ality, a leading member of the Baptist church, noted for his liber- 
ality to the poor, he was a general favorite, whose success created 
no envy. One of his children, Nathaniel, lives in old age, 1906, 
on the old farm, the last of his generation. 

"Jl. Arethusa. Born January 20, 1782; died young. 

74. Abigail. Florence, Ind. ; baptized Winchester, N. H., May, 
1785 ; married Chelsea, Vt., about 1806; died Hamilton, O., March 
17, 1862. Husband, Matthew Hedges, farmer, son of David and 
Phebe (Shaw) ; died March 22, 1863; 7 children. William, Mary 
Jane, Nathaniel Gates, Harriet, Chas, Emerson, Hester Ann, 
Davenport Oak. 

The family lived for a year or two in Stow, Vt., and went to 
Exeter, Me., in 1807-8, Abigail being the first of this branch to 
live in Maine. In 1816 the famous "year without crops," the 
Hedges removed to Ohio, and in 1821 settled in Florence, Ind., 
returning to Ohio soon after 1840, and spending their last years 
with their youngest son in Cincinnati. Abigail was traditionally 
older than Nathaniel, and though baptized in 1785, she may have 
been born some years earlier, or she may have been a twin of 
William, baptized the same year. Her descendants and those of 
William, the western lines of this branch, far outnumber those 
of all the other children of Nathaniel^ (20). The eastern 
cousins had long lost all knowledge of these relatives when in 
1891 the search was begun for this record. 



FAMILY REGISTER 35 

75. William. East Enterprise, Ind., farmer and carpenter; 
baptized Winchester, N. H., November 6, 1785; married N. Y., 
about 1805; died 1825. Wife. Sarah Alger (widow Bullock?) ; 7 
children, William Benjamin H., Sarah J., Jerusha, Davenport, 
Laura, Mary. 

William^ may have been a twin of Abigail. The eastern rela- 
tions knew nothing of him for 90 years, except that he left his 
home in Chelsea, Vt., 1803-4, not being able to agree with his 
step-mothe'r Unfortunately the family Bible cannot be consulted, 
the grandchildren in possession fearing an intention of the writer 
to get their share of some great fortune! He married in N. Y., 
perhaps Buffalo, and in 1815 settled in Indiana on a farm still 
occupied by his descendants in 1900. He was by all accounts a 
respectable, hard-working man, and an active Methodist, the 
meetings being long held in his home. His children had little 
opportunity for education, and his descendants are humble farm- 
ers and Democrats of the Indiana type. 

76. Betsy. Andover, Mass.; born Winchester, N. H., July 20, 
1787; married first about 1815; married second about 1830; died 
Garland, Me., 1872. First husband, Reuben Taylor, hotel-keeper, 
of Danbury. Vt. ; died about 1825 ; 3 children : Benjamin, William, 
Francis; second husband, Alvah Jennings; no children. 

Betsy*, with her first husband and after his death, kept the 
Mansion House in Andover, Mass. They had also kept a hotel in 
Boscawen, N. H. She was a very tall, straight woman of great 
worth, much courage and ambition; but her life was full of mis- 
fortunes. Her second husband proved worthless ; her second son 
disappeared in Australia; her oldest son was mentally weak in his 
later years ; twice in old age she fell and broke her hip, and even 
on her way to the grave the hearse was with difficulty kept from 
being overturned by a gale. She spent her last years in Garland, 
Maine, and her line is believed to be extinct. 

yj. Sarah. Born Winchester, N. H., about 1790; died unmar- 
ried about 1840. She lived with her sister, Mrs. Challis, and died 
of cholera in Cincinnati. 

78. Nancy. Exeter, Me.; born Chelsea, Vt., April 11, 1792; 
married, Corinth, Me., June 16, 1817; died 1879. Husband, Benja- 
min Evans, M. D., son of Thankfuls ; born Freetown, Mass., Janu- 
ary 16, 1790; died March 26, 1871 ; no children. Nancy went to 



36 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

Exeter, from Vermont in 1810 to visit her sister Abip:ail, and 
there she spent her life, being the last survivor of the family. The 
story of her early experiences and marriage, with the career of 
her husband, a pioneer physician, is a most fascinating one, but 
too long for this record, as is the eulogy that might truthfully 
be given to this noble couple. If Mrs. Evans ever had any faults 
her most intimate friends never discovered them. Her sister 
Betsy spent her later years at her home. 



IV. CHILDREN OF JOHN' (27) AND ABIGAIL LAM- 
BERT. 

79. Sarah. Lee, Me.; born Canaan, Me., December i, 1781 ; 
married Canaan, 1802 (intention 1804?) ; died 1867. Husband, 
John Hook, Jr., millwright, died March 11, 185 1 ; 9 children, Dan- 
iel, John, Joseph, Diana, Harriet, Mary, Betsy, Sarah and Martha. 

80. John. Exeter, Me., farmer; born Canaan, Me., Nov. 11, 
1783; married about 1806; died Kirkland, January 7, 1850. Wife, 
Catherine (widow McKenney) ; born February 5, 1793 ; died Chel- 
sea, Mass., February 18, 1866; 9 children: Catherine, Rachel, 
Daniel, Abigail, Harriet, Philena, Rebecca and George. 

John4 Oaks came from Palermo to Bangor, Me., in 1812, and 
with his father was a prisoner of war in 1814. He came to Exeter 
in 1829; had a withered hand; perhaps Catherine was a second 
wife. 

81. Lydia. Newport, Me.; born Canaan, February 22, 1788; 
married before 1807; died Bangor, December, 1871. Husband, 
Elisha Philbrook; died January 13, i860; 11 children: Roswell, 
Sabrina. Asenath, Jethro, Jason, Sophronia, Ira, Sirena, Deronda, 
Alona, Ruel. 

82. Levi. Cherryfiield, Me.; farmer; born before 1798; mar- 
ried before 1818; died. 1861. Wife, Mary Groves; died, 1784; 8 
children, Eli, Betsy, Elisha, Lydia, Mary, George, Cynthia, So- 
phronia, Abigail. He lived in Exeter 1827-33, coming from Wis- 
casset. Lived in Beddington in 1841. 



FAMILY REGISTER 37 

83. Daniel. Exeter, Me., farmer; born before 1800; married 
before 1820; died Hartland, Me., June 17, 1871. Wife, Betsy Eliz- 
abeth Philbrook, sister of Elisha (81) ; died November, 1862; 11 
children, John, Abigail, Nancy, Catherine, Julia, William, Daniel, 
Sarah, Ellen, Rebecca, Mary. Daniel lived also in Bangor, or 
Brewer. 

84. Electrius. St. Francis, N. B. ; farmer; died about i8qo. 
Wife, Henrietta Lavigne, half-breed French and Indian, said to^ 
have been an excellent woman; 13 children, Olive, Sarah, Elec- 
trius, William, Joseph, Ellen, Betsy, Abigail, Liza (Louisa), 
Olive, Peggy, John, Harriet. Electrius-* Oaks was a veteran of 
the War of 1812. When the line was run between the U. S. and 
Canada his farm proved to be on the Canadian side. His de- 
scendants are very numerous and very imperfectly recorded. 
Most of the children and grandchildren married French Cana- 
dians ; and naturally they have but slight education, and with 
few exceptions are not helpful correspondents. Families of 12 
to 18 children are not unusual. 

85. William Ward. Bangor, Me. ; foundryman ; born Canaan, 
October 9, 1799; married Exeter, April 20, 1833; died Cambridge, 
Mass., March 29, 1879. Wife, Eliza H. Steams, daughter of 
Capt. Levi of Newport; born Oakland, Me,, March 12, 1802; died 
September i, 1877; 7 children: Levi, Hannah, Nathaniel, Elec- 
trius, Charlotte, Eliza, Almeda. William lived in Boston some 
years from 1836, but returned to Maine, dying on a visit to Mass- 
achusetts. 

86. Betsy. Bangor, Me. ; born 1802. Husband, Paul Tib- 
betts; 7 children: John, Abigail, Henry, Naomi, Joseph. Lois, 
Martha. She lived also in Exeter and Carmel. Very little is 
known of her descendants. , 



IV. CHILDREN OF DANIEL ' (28) AND MORNING 

BLIN. 

87. Samuel. Charleston, S. C. ; merchant ; born Wiscasset, 
Me., 1784; married Canaan, 1802; died 1845. Wife, Mary Burrill; 



38 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

died 1880. aged 93; 3 children: Ziba, Charlotte, Francis. SamueH 
Oakes lived in Brownville, Me., before going to S. C. Nothing 
is known of what induced him to settle in the South. Suspicious 
relatives, relying on unfounded rumors of considerable wealth, 
think he may have obtained the famous grant due his grand- 
father ! He was a prosperous trader, but never rich. 

88. Rachel. Cambridge, Mass. ; born Wiscasset, Me., about 
1790; married first about 1810; married second, and third; died 
about 1837. First husband, Capt. John Christie, an Englishman 
of Boston; privateer in War of 1812, who died in Dartmoor 
prison, England. 1813; i child, Margaret. Second husband. Peter 
Garaux, French baker of Boston, who had served under Napoleon, 
and who entertained Louis Phillippe at his house. He had con- 
siderable property, including a block of buildings at Garaux Place 
(17 Portland street), which was inherited by his step-daughter, 
Margaret Christie. He lived but few years after the marriage, 
and had no children. Third husband, Richard Jennings, of Da- 
mariscotta, or Newcastle, Me. ; no children. 

89. Elizabeth. Cambridge, Mass. ; died about 1850. Hus- 
band, John Young, U. S. Navy. He lost both arms in a battle on 
the lakes. War of 1812; no children. 



IV. CHILDREN OF DANIEL'' (28) AND DEBORAH 

ALBEE. 

90. Daniel Lambert. Charleston, Mass.; sailor; born Wiscas- 
set, Me., 1801 ; married first ; married second about 1841 ; 

died June. 1877 (or January, 1875) in the Sailors' Home at 
Quincy. First wife, Hannah Pike (perhaps widow Pike, or Lit- 
tle) ; I child, Charlotte. Second wife, Sarah Collins; born Octo- 
ber, 1809; 4 children;: Daniel, William, Asa, Samuel; married 
second, Towle; E. Boston, 1895. 

91. Moses L. Boston, Mass.; policeman; born Wiscasset, 
Me. ; twice married ; died, December, 1871. First wife, Jane Page 
(widow DeForrest) ; died November 16, 1854, aged 45 ; 2 children, 
Moses and John. Second wife, Nancy Kelly (widow Barber) ; no 
children. 



FAMILY REGISTER 39 

92. Morning. (Later "Marina Kirke") ; Boston, Mass.; born 
Wiscasset, Me., 1810; 4 times married — and never a widow; died 
January 16, 1864 (or 1859). By some she was called a clairvoyant 
physician ; but it would seem that she simply lived in her later 
years by selling medicines prepared according to formulae of her 
brother, Dr. Thomas. First husband, Albert J. Treadwell; no 
children. Second husband, Bradford Stacy; 3 children: Stimp- 
son, Bradford, Lucinda. Third husband, Loring Jordan; no chil- 
dren. Fourth husband, Marshall Pike, minstrel, author of the 
old song, "Home Again," which he dedicated to his niece, Char- 
lottes Oakes. Still living, 1896; no children. 

93. Asa Hutchings. Boston, Mass. ; physician ; born Wiscas- 
set, Me., 181 1 ; died February 11, 1883. Wife, Mary Ann Harts- 
horn; died October 3, 1844; aged 31 ; i child: Rachel. 

94. Thomas Fletcher. Titusville, Pa. ; physician ; born Wis- 
casset, Me., about 1820; married first. New Bedford, Mass.; mar- 
ried second, Pennsylvania, about 1871 ; died February 26, 1876. 
First wife, Elizabeth Sherman, of New Bedford ; divorced ; i 

child, Frank. Second wife, Kate (widow Bevins) ; no 

children. 

Dr. Thomas'* Oakes was a skillful physician, serving in the war 
as assistant surgeon. First Massachusetts Volunteers, from July 
29, 1862 ; and surgeon Fifty-sixth Massachusetts Volunteers, 
1863-5; also acting as Brigade surgeon. He practiced in East 
Portsmouth and Boston from 1846, removing to Pennsylvania 
after the war. He suffered much from dyspepsia, and died poor. 
A long and eulogistic memorial was published in the Titusville 

papers. His first wife married Robinson and went to 

Vermont. The widow is said to have been in Buffalo, N. Y., 
1896. 

95. Francis Garaux. Boston, Mass. ; born Wiscasset, Me., 
April, 1822; married 1840; died March 6, 1876; buried Burlington, 
Me. Wife, Caroline Comfort Paige, daughter of John^ (Col. Ed- 
ward') ; born Rumford, Me., 1822; died December 10, 1874; 3 
children : Thomas, Francis, Marshall. Francis was the father of 
Thomas F. Oakes, the railroad magnate of New York. 



40 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

IV. CHILDREN OF LEVI' (30) AND LYDIA BROWN. 

96. Louisa. Sangerville, Ale.; born Canaan, November i, 
1790; married December 10 (or 25), 1810; died September 13, 
1824. Husband, Walter Leland, son of Henry <; born Sherburn, 
Mass., June 2, 1784; married second, widow Dane, 1825; married 
third, widow Bennett, 1833; 5 children: Sarah, Walter, Lydia, 
Laura, Chauncey. There is a published genealogy of the Leland 
family. 

97. Jonathan. Parkman, Me.; born Canaan about 1793; mar- 
ried Sangerville, 1816; to Parkman, 1827; to Aroostook before 
1831. Wife, Rachael Carsley; 4 children: Ebenezer, Martha, 
Cynthia, Timothy. 

98. Cynthia. Rutland, O. ; born Canaan, Me., February 22, 
1795; married Sangerville, February 4, 1814; to Philadelphia, 
1838; to Ohio, 1846; died September 26, 1855. Husband, William 
Stevens, Jr.; born November 7, 1793; died March 9, 1873; 10 
children : Eunice, William, Lucy, Francis, Cynthia, Mary, Lor- 
enz, Augustus. John, William. 

99. Lydia. Wellington, Me. Husband, Davis; no 

children. 

100 , Levi. Wellington, Me. Wife, Sarah Tibbetts; 4 chil- 
dren. The family left Wellington before 1840, and no further 
trace has been found. 

loi. Mary. Died young. 

102. Elizabeth. Wellington, Me. ; died North Searsmont, 
about 1875. Husband, Henry Follett; died Sacramento, Cal., 
1850; 6 children: JefTerson, Levi, Henry, Francis, Loranus, Lor- 
inda. 



IV. CHILDREN OF SOLOMON' (32) AND SUSANNA 

CLARK. 

103. Othniel. P>orn 1787; died young. 

104. Sybil. Illinois; born Canaan, Me., 1788 (or '90) ; married 
(intention) January 29, 1805; died 1859. Husband, Isaac Law- 



FAMILY REGISTER 41 

rence; farmer; 8 children: Benjamin, Irene, Deborah, Sybil, 
Mary, Harriet, Abner, Isaac. The family went to Illinois about 
1848. 

105. Olive. Parkman, Me.; born Canaan, 1790 (or 92) ; mar- 
ried May 15, 1815; died June 20, 1861 ; to Illinois, 1848; returned 
to Maine 1856. Husband, Joseph Morgridge; farmer; he married 
second, her sister. Morning, and died November 16, 1882; 2 chil- 
dren : Otis, Flagg. 

106. Millie. Norridgewock, Me. ; born Canaan, December 28, 
1793; married 1815; died September 2, 1876. Husband, Cyrus 
Heald; farmer; born September 2, 1793; died January 3, 1859; 10 
children : Harriet, Sabrina, Winthrop, Lucy, Susan, Thomas, 
Charlotte, Solomon, Marcia, Gracia. 

107. Nancy. Sangerville, Me.; born Canaan, March 30, 1794; 
married September 9, 1813; died November 12, 1877. Husband, 
Moses Rollins; farmer; 5 children: Olive, John, Benjamin, 
Charles, Henry. 

108. Abigail. Wisconsin; born Canaan, Me., 1796; married, 
Sangerville, November 2y, 1816; died California. Husband, Noah 
Clough; 5 children: Clarissa, Noah, Orison, Albion, John. The 
family went west before 1840; and several of the sons went later 
to California, one of them taking the mother there after the 
father's death. This family has not been found. 

109. Susan. Sangerville, Me.; born Canaan, 1798; died un- 
married, 1828. 

110. Solomon. Illinois; farmer; born Canaan, Me., June 18, 
1799; married Sangerville, September 14, 1823; to Parkman, 1839; 
to Illinois, 1852, but perhaps returned; died 1868. Wife, Paulina 
Douty, his cousin( 174); 10 children: Delphina, Horace, Isaac, 
Lucy, Martha, David, Lafayette, Olive, William, Amelia. 

111. Morning Flagg. Parkman, Me.; born Canaan, 1802; 
married November 26, 1865; died March 11, 1892. Husband, 
Joseph Morgridge; died November 16, 1882. His first wife was 
her sister Olive (105) ; no children. She died in Illinois, where 
after her husband's death she went to live with her sister Lydia 
(113). 

112. Owen. Belvidere, 111.; farmer; born Canaan, Me., Octo- 
ber 5, 1804; married first, Parkman, November 24, 1833; to Illi- 



42 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

nois about 1845; married second, March 31, 1863; died August 2, 
1897, aged 92. First wife, Delana Crocker; died May i, 1854; 4 
children: Sallie, Susan, Henry, Owen. Second wife, Elizabeth 
H. Petingill (widow Coburn), of Wyanet, III, 1900; no children. 
Owen was born on Oaks' Island, Skowhegan ; but in infancy went 
to Sangerville. His widow has been a helpful correspondent in 
a branch of the family where help was sadly needed. 

113. Lydia. Charles City, la.; born Sangerville, Me., October 
30. 1808; married Parkman, October 26, 1834; to Illinois about 
1851 ; died January 11, 1892. Husband, Alden Crocker, son of 
Joseph and brother of Delana (112) ; died Parkman, Me., 1850; 7 
children: George, Lavina, Winthrop, Charles, Andrew, Daniel, 
Amanda. 

114. Amanda. Sangerville, Me.; born 1810; died unmarried, 
1830. 

115. Elbridge. Flora, Illinois; born Sangerville, Me., August 
18, 1813 (or August 19, 1812) ; married Sangerville, June, 1832; to 
Illinois about 1848; died February 12, 1889. Wife, Liberty Leigh- 
ton; died May 5, 1893; 5 children: Cyrus, Marshall, John, Susan, 
Abigail. 



IV. CHILDREN OF ABEL' (34) AND BETSY HAMLIN. 

116. Lucy. Sangerville, Me.; born Canaan, March 28, 1793; 
married first, June, 181 1 ; married second, after 1840; died July 17, 
1874 (or 1880). She lived also in Garland and Dexter before 182 1. 
First husband, Sampson Silver; farmer; died August 11, 1840; 7 
children : John, Jane, Stephen, Sarah, Samuel, Benjamin, Savilla. 
Second husband, William Goodwin; no children. 

117. Simeon. Sangerville, Me.; born Canaan, December 21, 
1794; married about 1817. He went south, perhaps to South 
Carolina, after 1830, to settle some estate, and was never heard 
of again. He also is one of those suspected of having secured the 
mythical Oakes fortune. Wife, Dorothy Stevens, sister of Will- 
iam (98); died Portland, Oregon, March 31. 1870; 7 children: 
Gorham, Ira, Edward, Lucinda, Louisa, Lyllis, Lovina. 



FAMILY REGISTER 43 

1 18. Stephen. Brookville, Pa. ; millwright ; born Canaan, Me., 
February 28, 1797; married May 6, 1821 ; from Sangerville, Me., 
to Pennsylvania, 1837; died May 29, 1874. Wife, Sally Jane 
Ames; born 1800; died 1880; 8 children: Elizabeth, Stephen, Cal- 
vin, Cordelia, George, Sally, Martin, Hudson. 

119. Abel. Providence, R. I.; contractor; born Canaan, Me., 
March 22, 1798; married Milton, Mass., September i, 1828; died 
February 12, 1858. Wife, Charlotte Billings, of Boston; died 
December 28, 1866; 5 children: Mary, Charles, Mary, William. 
John. 

120. James. Sangerville, Me.; farmer; born Canaan, Me., 
March 24, 1800; married July 10, 1823; died Foxcroft, Me. Wife, 
Sarah Parsons; 6 children: Kingman, Danville, Howard, Arvilla. 
Hudson, Ruth. 

121. Samuel. Sangerville, Me.; farmer; born Canaan, No- 
vember 27, 1801 ; married October 7, 1824; died December 24, 
1884. Wife, Sally Saunders, of Orland ; born 1803 ; i child, Abel. 

122. Eliza. Milo, Me. ; born Canaan, August 10, 1803 ; mar- 
ried December 13', 1829; died October 31, 1854. Husband, Robert 
Walton, stonemason; born Paris, Me., July 24, 1804; died July 21, 
1872; 4 children: Emily, Cyrena, Daniel, William. 

123. William. Orland, Me.; farmer; born Canaan, May 18, 
1806 (or 1804) ; married 1829; died February 28, 1888. He was 
a prominent citizen, high in Masonry, and colonel of militia. He 
went to California in "the days of gold." Wife, Sarah Partridge; 
died April i, 1852; 5 children: Emily, Abigail, Florence, Dru- 
zilla, Corydon. 

124. Ebenezer Gardner. Sangerville, Me.; farmer; born Oc- 
tober 16, 1808; married first. ; married second, April 30, 

1849; died July 26, 1882. First wife, Harriet Mead, of Orland; 
divorced; no children. Second wife, Sarah Briggs; died Febru- 
ary 17, 1884; 8 children: Nelson, Imogene, Eliza, Emily, Estella, 
Mary, David, Fred. Gardner Oaks was of Orland, 1833 ; and his 
children were born in Guilford. He also is said to have sought 
gold in California. 

125. John Ames. Garland, Me. ; farmer and Methodist preach- 
er; born Sangerville, Me., June 28, 1809; married Parkman, April 
I, 1828; to Garland, 1847; died August 26, 1886. Wife, Lucy 



44 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

Ann Follett, of Wellington; born December 20, 1809; died April 
22, 1871 ; sister of Henry (102); 3 children: Melvina, Amelia, 
Llewellyn. Elder John-* A. Oaks was a good-natured, hard-work- 
ing man, who preached and traded horses at intervals. He had 
a commendable habit of treating the writer as a boy to maple 
syrup, being the only one of the tribe known to the writer outside 
of his own branch. The two families lived in Garland for half a 
century, neither knowing of any relationship between Oaks and 
Oak. 

126. Lovina. Orland, Me.; born Sangerville, July, 1812; mar- 
ried first, about 1835; married second about 1840; died March 16, 
1873. First husband, Hudson Saunders; farmer; died January 
12, 1839; 2 children: Hudson, Caroline. Second husband, Jesse 
Floyd, lawyer ; i child, George. 

127. Daniel. Orland, Me.; farmer; born Sangerville, July, 
181 5; died unmarried, 1836. Accidentally drowned. 



IV. CHILDREN OF WILLIAM' (35) AND SUSANNA 

ORR. 

128. Otis. Sangerville, Me., farmer; born Canaan, January 4, 
1794; married May 4, 1823; died Monson, September 24, 1875. 
Wife. Celia Morgridge; born Litchfield, February, 1797; died 
August II, 1894; 3 children: Melville, Miranda, Sanford. 

129. William. Sangerville, Me.; farmer; born Canaan, No- 
vember 8, 1795; married, May 3, 1819; died April 12, 1873. Wife, 
Mary Weymouth; born October 9, 1798; died 1887; 8 children: 
Abner, James, W^illiam, Albion, Valentine, William, Mary, Aug- 
ustus. Col. WillianT* Oakes was a very prominent citizen, colonel 
of militia, holding town, county and state offices. It is regretted 
that a more detailed account of his life has not been furnished. 
Many of his descendants are in the professions — lawyers, teach- 
ers, engineers and artists. 

130. Betsy. Sangerville, Me.; born Canaan, March 7, 1799; 
married November 28, 1819; died Dover, December 14, 1864. 
Husband, William Farnham, Jr.; 2 children: Susan, Hannah. 



FAMILY REGISTER 45 

131. Fanny. Sangerville, Me.; born ; married Decem- 
ber 24, 1826; died July 18. 1883. Husband. Eleazar Brown; died 
February 15, 1876; 3 children: Lamar, Sarah. Augustus. 

132. Charity Jane. Sangerville. Me.; born November 29, 
1808; married April 22. 1828; died April 19, 1891. Husband, 
Samuel Farnham; died June 28. 1889; killed by lightning; 7 chil- 
dren : Harriet. Albert, Emily, Everett. Luther, Lucile, Samuel. 

133. Lamar Chace. Sangerville, Me.; born June, 1805; died 
unmarried, October 28, 1825. 



IV. CHILDREN OF WILLIAM' (35) AND MARTHA 

MORGRIDGE. 

134. Mortimer Judson, physician ; born Sangerville. Me.. May 
6, 1837; married Lowell, Mass., 1856; died 1871. Wife, Lizzie 
Church; i child, Fred. 

135. Araminta.. .Dexter, Me., 1898; born April 24. 1840; mar- 
ried November 26, 1863, (by Justice Lorenzos Oak, Benj.* (70).) 
Husband, Fred Page, expressman; no children. She is one of the 
two survivors of her generation in 1898; and the only one with 
whom the writer has had direct correspondence. Though an 
invalid, confined to her room for years by a malady of the eyes, 
she has taken the greatest interest in the family record, and has 
supplied a very large amount of information about members of 
several different branches. 



IV. CHILDREN OF SYLVANUS' (39) AND ABIGAIL 

BALL. 

136. Rebecca. Born November 16, 1772; died after 1835. 
Husband, Joseph Thorp. No trace of the children found. 

137. Lydia. Coleraine, Mass.; born Holden, September 17, 
1774; married, 1793; died February 25, 1852. Husband, Abel 



46 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

Shattuck, son of Thomass ; born 1758; died July i, 1816; 14 chil- 
dren: Mary, Jethro, Almira, Abel, Park, Lydia, Ai, Milo, Ase- 
nath, Silas, Truman, Truly, Ezra, Sylvia. Lydia was his second 
wife. Abel Shattuck lived 10 years with the Shakers of New 
Lebanon, N. Y., a clothier by trade, and much employed in public 
affairs of Coleraine. The 14 children had many descendants — 
one of the largest lines from this fourth generation ; but the ex- 
cellent Shattuck Genealogy gave a good start ; and members of 
the family have as a rule been good correspondents. 

138. John. Coleraine, Mass.; farmer; born December 19, 
1776; married about 1803; died May 17, 1850. Wife, Rachel 
Caldwell; born August 30, 1785; died April 9, 1825; 8 children: 
Rachel. Joseph. Evelyn, George Mary, Samuel, Cleora, Abigail. 
John was crippled with rheumatism in his later years. Two 
daughters are living and have given the records of their own 
families ; but are uncommunicative about the other lines, most of 
which, however, were not numerous. 

Born September it, 1780; died in infancy. 

, New York; born January 11, 1784. Hus- 



139- 


Darius. 


140. 


Mary, 


band, - 





Eldridge; i child, David (and probably more) — 
family not found. 

141. Silas. Darkesville, W. Va. ; woolen manufacturer; born 
Coleraine, Mass., March 19, 1787; married, Virginia, November 
14, 1815; died July 14, 1856. Wife, Margaret Collins; died May 
10, 1871 ; 4 children : David, William, Mary, Margaret. Silas and 
his descendants wrote the name "Oak," as did probably his 
brothers and sisters in youth. 

142. George. Black River, N. Y. ; clothier; born June 13, 
1790; married June 3, 1819; died October 12, 1857. Wife, Martha 
Green Choate; born Bennington, Vt., October 22, 1797; died July 
28, 1878; 8 children: Carlos, William, Helen, Charles, George, 
Kimball, Martha, Caroline. 

143. Levi. Abingdon, Va. ; farmer and fuller; born February 
26, 1793; married, Virginia, January 15, 1819; died June 12, 1891. 
Wife, Jane White; born January 9, 1801 ; died July 6, 1891 ; 2 chil- 
dren, Alary. Margaret. Levi-* Oak was a Union man during the 
war. He was of dark complexion, tall but not strong, a quiet 
man of good reputation. Like his brother Silas he retained the 
name in its original form. 



FAMILY REGISTER 47 

144. Margaret. Coleraine, Mass.; born June 16, 1797; mar- 
ried 181 7; died . Husband. Amos Stewart; farmer; born 

January 4, 1793; died June 17, 1867; 10 children: Haven, Will- 
iam, Silas, Nancy. David. Amos, Amos, Charles, Mary, George. 
His second wife was Lydias Shattuck (widow Babcock), daugh- 
ter of Lydia-* Oak (137) ; no children. 



DESCENDANTS OF NATHANIEL OAK. 
Fourth Generation in Female Lines. 

Arranged alphabetically by surnames, with reference by num- 
ber to and from the male lines. 

ALEXANDER, Hannah^ Oak, John- (7) 

This family with 42 names in the male line and over 300 in all 
lines, constitutes with that of Follett, one of the main branches 
of the Oaks. It is the branch most nearly related to the writer, 
except his own. The MSS. left by Dr. Alexander has been of 
great service, and members generally have been good correspond- 
ents. 



IV. CHILDREN OF SETH AND HANNAH' OAK (19) 
All Born Winchester, N. H. 

145. Hannah. Winchester, N. H. ; born September 25, 1769; 
married first, March 14, 1787; married second, November 27, 1810; 
died January 3, 1853. First husband, James Foster, of Fitzwill- 
iam, son of Joseph, who was a Revolutionary soldier (?) ; 6 chil- 
dren: Sally, Daniel, Susan, Hannah, Grata, James. Second hus- 
band, Tertius Lyman; born 1762; died October 6, 1827; i child, 
Tertius. 



48 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

146. Seth. Born 1770; died young. 

147. Elias. Born July 24, 1771 ; died October 5, 1776. 

148. Grata. Winchester, N. H. ; born July 4, 1773; married 
1795; died November 3, 1819. Husband, Ephraim Hawkins; died 
October 17, 1820, aged 54; 4 children: Pamelia, Daniel, Pamelia, 
Lifa. 

149. Elijah. Born February 23, 1775; died October 5. 1776. 

150. Elias. DeKalb, N. Y. ; born January 10. 1777; married 
Cooperstown, 1808; died 1855. Wife, Chloe Woodhouse; died 
April, 1842; 7 children: Horace, Emery, Elvira, Emily, Evaline, 
Jane, James. 

151. Seth. DeKalb, N. Y. ; born March 31, 1779 ; married first 
about 1814; married second about 1845; ^i^^ February 5, 1874. 
First wife, Olive Spencer; born May 23, 1791 ; died September 17, 
1839; 6 children: Edward, Mary, William, Dixon, Florilla, Caro- 
line. Second wife, Lucy (widow Barnes) ; died December 8, 
1875 ; no children. 

152. Content. Earlville, N. Y. ; born May 10, 1781 ; married 
July 14, 1799; died November 6, 1863. Husband, James Stowell, 
M. D., son of Joseph and Martha; born October 2, 1771 ; died 
1843; 12 children: Pamelia, Eunice, Jeremiah, Caroline, Paul, 
Alexander, Cynthia, Hannah, George, Sanford, Samantha, Nancy. 



BIGELOW. Elizabeth3 Oak, Jon.^ (8). 

This is one of the main branches — the descendants of one of the 
immigrant's grandchildren. It is also one of the largest branches 
with over 700 names, though the record in some lines is still 
missing. 

The published Bigelow Genealogy contains but very little in- 
formation on the Oak branch. 

IV. CHILDREN OF NATHAN AND ELIZABETH' 

OAK (23). 

153. Levi. Crown Point, N. Y., from 1802; born Ashburn- 
ham, Mass., July 13, 1771 ; married February 25, 1798; died Au- 



FAMILY REGISTER 49 

gust 26, 1825. Wife, Lucy Sampson (224) (his cousin), daughter 
of Jonathan and Mary3 Oak (21) ; born May 12, 1775; died April 
23, 1838; 9 children: Olive, Ephriam, Polly, Ransom, Levi, Lucy, 
Calvin, Desta, Roswell. 

154. Nathan. Brandon, Vt. ; shoemaker; born Ashburnham, 
Mass., January 27, 1773. Wife, Nabby Carey; 5 children: Phila, 
Lavina, Parmelia, Abbie, Charles. 

155. Betsy. Born Ashburnham, Mass., September 17, 1774; 
died about 1834. Husband, John Dunlop; 2 children : Betsy, — ? 

156. Jonathan Oaks. Born Ashburnham, Mass., July 22, 1776. 
Wife, ; 3 children : Rosaline, Eliza, Ransom. 

157. John. Crown Point, N. Y. ; farmer ; born Vermont, Au- 
gust 18, 1780; married February 11, 1812; died May 28, 1847. 
Wife, Harriet Holden; born March 4, 1791 ; died, December 24, 
1881; 9 children: John, Orson, Matilda, Hartwell, Augustus, 
Darius, Stephen, Charles, Sarah. 

158. Ebenezer. Crown Point, N. Y. ; farmer; born Septem- 
ber 12, 1784; married 1812; died November 24, 1863. Wife, 
Betsy Wallace; died September 3, i860; 9 children: Maranda, 
Alonzo, John, Daniel, Melissa, Martha, Henry, Mary, Orville. 

159. Joseph. Wisconsin; born Crown Point, N. Y., February 

15, 1787; married about 1810; died . Wife, Catherine 

Chilcott; 14 children: Rosetta, William, Nancy, William, John, 
William, Polly, Rosetta, Oscar, Amos, Lucinda, Daniel, Polly, 
Hiram. Joseph was the grandfather of Chief Justice Rosco R. 
Bigelow, of Nevada. 

160. Amos. Detroit, Mich. ; millwright ; born Crown Point, 
N. Y., May 30, 1789; died December 24, 1850. Wife, Nancy 
Chilcott; born May 10, 1797; died February 21, 1846; 11 children: 
William, Charlotte, Elijah, Seymour, Orlando, Orphia, Emily, 
Clinton, Henry, Mary, Alice. 

161. Sally. Crown Point, N. Y. ; born Clarendon, Vt. (?), 
September 12, 1791 ; married first, April 21, 1808; married second, 
January 31, 1844; died March 14, 1868. First husband, David 
Drake; born Concord, Mass., September 24, 1787; died February 
13' 1837; 10 children: Lyman, Martha, Amos, Nathan, Ann, Al- 
bida, Lucinda, Olive, Mary, Laura. Congressman James C. Need- 
ham of California is a grandson of Sally. 



50 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

162. Daniel, Wisconsin. 

163. Polly. Vermont. Husband, Charles Holden. 

Of probably balf of the whole Bigelow branch no record can be 
found. 



BLACKDEN, Sarah Oak^, Jonathan^ (8). 

IV. CHILDREN OF WILLIAM AND SARAH OAK 3 (24). 

164. Joseph Fairbanks. Maine ; born Harvard, Mass., April 
6, 1772. Wife, Jennie Getchell; 6 children: Clarissa, Rozinda, 
James, William, Daniel, David. 

165. Sarah. Born Harvard, Mass., February 17, 1774. 

166. Mary. Husband, Benjamin Getchell, of N. Anson, Me., 
brother of Jennie (164); 10 children: Reed, Dennis, Phineas, 
Mary, Cynthia, Charlotte, Fanny, Nancy, Cynthia, Sarah and 
two who died in infancy. This should be one of the main 
branches of the tribe, but as yet very little information has been 
obtained. The name in later times has generally been written 
Blagden or Blagdon. 



CONANT. Lydia3 Oak, Jonathan^ (8). 

This is one of the large main branches of the tribe; and the 
record is complete with about 550 names. In the male Conant 
line there are 108 names. It is a family of distinguished lineage 
and of high character, containing probably more professional and 
prominent members than any other branch. The excellent pub- 
lished Conant Genealogy has been of great service, though it 
contains less than one-third of the names here recorded. 



FAMILY REGISTER 51 

IV. CHILDREN OF EBENEZER AND LYDIA^* OAK (22). 

167. Lydia. Born Stow, Mass., November 21, 1768; died, 
Ashburnham, September, 1776. 

168. Sarah. Brandon, Vt. ; born Ashburnham, Mass., October 
24 (or 17), 1770; married November 6, 1788; died Springfield, N. 
Y., May 2, 1839. Husband, Deacon Jonathan Merriam, son of 
Isaacs and Eleanor (Monroe) ; born. Concord, Mass., July 6, 1764; 
died March 26, 1826 (or April 26, 1825) ; a hatter by trade; Capt. 
of Militia; selectman, and Baptist deacon; 8 children: Isaac, 
Jonathan, Sarah, Lydia, Eben, Calvin, Rollin, Mylon. 

169. John. Brandon, Vt.', manufacturer and foundryman; 
born Ashburnham, Mass., February 2 (or 22), 1773; married first, 
November 19, 1794; married second, 1853 ; died June 30, 1856. He 
was one of the richest and most prominent men in town ; deacon, 
Justice, Representative, and Presidential Elector. First wife. 
Charity Wait Broughton, daughter of Wait; born June 14, 1772; 
died December 12, 1851 ; 9 children: Cynthia, Samuel, Chauncey, 
John, Thomas, Sophronia, Caroline, Clara, Francis. Second wife, 
widow Bowman, of Chicago ; no children. 

170. Elizabeth. Brandon, Vt. ; born Ashburnham, Mass., 
March 15, 1775; married, February 10, 1794; died June 3, 1842. 
Husband, Capt. David Merriam, brother of Jonathan (168) ; born 
January 28, 1760; died February 15, 1842 (or '45 or '49) ; 4 chil- 
dren : Betsy, Alvin, Angeline, David. 

171. Eben. Geneva, 111.; farmer; born Ashburnham, Mass., 

June 6, 1777; married first ; married second, June 4, 

1807; married third, May 17, 1849; died July 17, 1870. A prom- 
inent Unitarian. First wife, Rebecca Stuart; 2 children: Rebecca, 
Sophia. Second wife, Fanny Clifford, of Pittsford, Vt. ; died 
January 26, 1848; 5 children : Rebecca, Fanny, Augustus, Calvin, 
Harriet. Third wife, Polly Olin Wright; no children. 

172. Calvin. Putnam, C; mechanic and physician; born, 
Ashburnham, Mass., May 30, 1779; married first, May 24, 1801 ; 

married second, ; died January 26, 1829. Clerk of 

Baptist church; lived in Vermont— Pittsford, Brandon, and 
Shelburne, to 1816. First wife, Esther Rich, of Pittsford, Vt.; 
born, January 15, 1782; died, June ii, 1825; 6 children: Lydia, 
Melinda, Betsy, Charles, Lorenzo, Cyrus. 



52 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

173. Luther. Geneva, 111.; born Ashburnham, Mass., January 
(or June), 24, 1782; married first, July 10, 1804; married second, 
August 25, 181 1 ; died August 8, 1835. First wife, Polly Hall, of 
Brandon, Vt. ; born May 12, 1786; died December 12, 1809; 2 chil- 
dren: Polly, Amanda. Second wife, Reziner Bemis; born Dum- 
merston, Vt., May 7, 1787; died June 30, 1867; 3 children: Olive, 
Mary, William. 



CUMMINGS, Lydia3 Oak, George.^ (9). 

IV. CHILDREN OF JONATHAN AND LYDIA' OAK (38). 
Probably bom Andover, Mass. 

173a. Sarah. Born May 21, 1767; died young. 

173b. Sarah. Born August 25, 1768. 

173c- Jonathan. Born February 5, 1771. 

173d. Stephen. Born January 12, 1773. 

1736. Mary. Born November i, 1774. 

I73f. Daniel. Born December i, 1776; died young. 

I73g. Daniel. Born September 2, 1778. 

I73h. Amos. Born July 2, 1781. 

I73i. Patty, Born October 13, 1783. 

173J. Abithar. Born September 22, 1786. 

(Probably not all children of Lydia, the first wife). There is 
another record from "Merrimack" of the birth of the following 
children of a Jonathan and Lydia Cummings : Elizabeth, August 
26, 1786; Lydia, October 5, 1788; Jonathan, September, 1790; 
Achsah, April 21, 1795. 



DOUTY. Lucy3 Oaks (36), Jonathan^ (8). 

IV. CHILDREN OF DAVID AND LUCY3 OAKS (36). 

174. Philena (or Paulina). Illinois; born, Maine, December 
14, 1798; married September 14, 1823; died . Husband, 



FAMILY REGISTER 53 

Solomon* Oaks (no) ; died 1868; 10 children: Delphina, Horace, 
Isaac, Lucy, Martha, David, Lafayette, Olive, William, Amelia. 

175. Oaksman. Sangerville, Me. ; farmerj Colonel of Militia; 
,born, May 31, 1800; died, August 9, 1844, from a fall from his 
horse at a muster. Wife, Mercy Colton; died, September 9, 1853, 
aged 44; 5 children: Justice, Lorenzo, Abby, Henrietta, Rozilla. 

176. George. Sangerville, Me.; farmer; born August 20, 
1801 ; married, 1823 ; died September 29, 1863. Wife, Sally Ma- 
comber ; died January 8, 1888 ; 7 children : Elizabeth, Sally, Win- 
burn, Olive, Abigail, George, David. 

177. John. Winnebago, Wisconsin; farmer; born March 18, 
1803; married, 1833; died, June, 1887. Wife, Mary Ann Hilton; 
4 children : Daniel, Calvin, Alfred, Sarah. 

178. Martha. Dexter, Me., born, December 17, 1804; married, 

1832; died . Husband, Joseph Wormell; 2 children: 

George, Lucy. 

179. Hiram. Fond du Lac, Wis.; real estate; born, Maine, 
September 24, 1806; died, Vineland, N. J., October 8, 1871. Wife, 
Althea Robinson; no children. 

180. Abigail, Galesburg, 111. ; born, Sangerville, Me., Sep- 
tember 17, 1809; married, 1829; died, N. Y., . Husband, 

Isaac W. Colton; 2 children: David, Martha. One of the chil- 
dren was Gen. D. D. Colton, of San Francisco, associated with 
Huntington, Hopkins, Stanford and Crocker in building the Cen- 
tral Pacific railroad. 

181. Col. CALVIN SANGER. Dover, Me. ; farmer and sur- 
veyor; born Sangerville. December 10, 181 1: married, June 15, 
1845; to Guilford 1845; to Dover, 1853; died, June 17, 1863. Dep- 
uty Sheriff and twice Sheriff of Piscataquis county. He raised a 
company, 1861, and became Major of the First Maine Cavalry; 
promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel ; and in a month was 
to have been Brigadier General, but was killed in a cavalry 
charge at Addis, Va. Wife, Emily Cummings Bailey, of "May- 
flower" stock; died, 1892; i child, and 6 who died young. The 
son is Frank S. Douty of San Francisco, Cal., prominent in busi- 
ness and social circles. 

182. Lovey. Sangerville, Me.; born, April 4, 1814; married. 
July 26, 1835 ; died, December 24, 1857. Husband, James Tarr, 



54 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

blacksmith; died, May 6, 1892; 3 children: Susan, Charles, 
James. 

183. Charles Weymouth. Houlton, Me.; born March 2, 1815; 
married, March 12, 1843; died, October 26, 1890. Wife, Mary 
Elizabeth Staples; born, Albion, January 19, 1823; died, Septem- 
ber 8, 1895 ; i child : Ella. 

184. David. Sangerville, Me.; farmer; born, November 17, 
1818; married first, 1846; married second, March 15, 1855; died, 
June 14, 1870. First wife, Sarah Cleaves; 2 children: Charles, 
Edwin. Second wife, Josephine Herring; 6 children: Hattie, 
Fred, Ada, May, David, Calvin. 

185. Lucy Reliance. Mt. Vernon, Wash., 1897 ; born, April 28, 
1822 (or 1820) ; married first. May 12, 1846; married second, De- 
cember 22, 1883. One of the two survivors of the fourth gener- 
ation. First husband, Joseph Cleaves, merchant; divorced, and 
living in 1897; 5 children: Fred, Howard, Arthur, Ida, Mary. 
Second husband, Orrin Kincaid, farmer; no children. 



FOLLETT. Hannah3 Oak, John^ (7). 

This family, with the Alexanders, constitutes one of the main 
branches of the tribe, or more than half the descendants of 
John^ (7). 

IV. CHILDREN OF JOHN AND HANNAH' OAK (19). 
All Born Winchester, N. H. 

186. John. Winchester, N. H. ; farmer; born, June 9, 1784; 
married June 30 (or June 28), 1810; died, July 27, 1816. Wife, 
Lydia Oldham, daughter of Abel and Amy (Hawkins) ; born 
April 29, 1790; married second, Timothy Smith, 1824; died, Jan- 
uary 19, 1868; 4 children: Nancy, Eliphalet, Abel, Stutson. 

187. Silas. Enfield, N. Y. ; farmer; born January 31, 1786; 
married first, 1808; married second, Enfield, July 21, 1814; died, 
October i, 1864. First wife, Hannah May; died. May, 1813; 4 
children, Fanny, Emily, Harriet, Sophronia. Second wife, Nancy 



FAMILY REGISTER 55 

Curry; 9 children, William, James, Caroline, John, Betsy, Alex, 
Lutheda, Permelia, Mary. 

188. King. Nauvoo, 111.; farmer; born July 25 (24 or 26), 
1788; married, about 1816; died, March 9, 1844. He went from 
New Hampshire to Cooperstown, N. Y., and to DeKalb, 1809; 
to Ohio, before 1824; became a Mormon Elder, 1831 ; to Illinois, 
1839. He shared the presecution of the saints, being in jail in 
Richmond and Columbia, Mo., April to October, 1839, on a charge 
of robbery, but was acquitted on trial. He was killed by a bucket 
of rocks falling upon him in a well. Part of his family went on 
with the church to Utah, but the widow and two sons went to 
Iowa. Wife, Louisa Tanner; born August 3, 1799; died, Novem- 
ber 15, 1891 ; 9 children : Warren, William, Nancy, Edward, John, 
Adeline, Emily, Mary, Edward. 

189. Lifa. Winchester, N. H. ; born April 19, 1790; died un- 
married, October 21, 1809. Killed by fall from a building. 

190. William. Winchester, N. H. ; hotel-keeper; born April 
17, (or 18) 1792; married, September 15, 1818; died, June 26, 1861. 
Wife, Lutheda Scott, daughter of Eben ; born April 14, 1794; 
died February 25, 1859; 4 children, Abigail, Seth, Maryette, 
Maria. 

191. Alexander. Ohio; born, May 7, 1794; died, before 1823. 
He went to Ohio with his brother King; probably married; and 
died there ; probably no children. ' 



GATES. Mindwell3 Oak, Nathaniel^ (2). 

This is one of the smaller main branches of the tribe, with 
about 150 names, with 37 names in the male line. The record 
is nearly complete. 

IV. CHILDREN OF CALEB AND MINDWELL'' OAK (15). 

192. Achsah. Acton (Townshend), Vt. ; born Stow, Mass., 
March 8, 1777; married March 19, 1807; died July, 1854. 
Husband, Dennis Holden, son of Philemon of Shirley, Mass., one 
of the proprietors and first settlers of Johnson's Gore (Acton) ; 



56 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

born December 6, 1784; died July 15, 1872; 7 children, Philemon, 
Sabra, Ira, Lurintha, Louisa, Achsah, Fidelia. 

193. Artemas. Born April 25, 1780; died young. 

194. Josiah. Acton and Reading, Vt. ; born Stow, Mass., 
October 8, 1783; married January 8, 1803; died March 10, 1812. 
Wife, Sabra Holden, sister of Dennis (192) ; born December 23, 
1782; died, December 13, 1815; 5 children, Artemas, Josiah, John, 
Emerv, Caleb. 



HOMSTED. Sybil3 Oaks, Jonathan^ (8). 

This one of the main branches descending from the third gen- 
eration contains about 220 names, some lines being yet very in- 
complete. The male Homsted line recorded includes 73 names. 

IV. CHILDREN OF DANIEL AND SYBIL 3 OAKS (33). 

Born Skowhegan, M*. 

195. Abigail. First husband, Daniel Hutchinson; 4 children. 
Second husband, Robert Rogers; 4 children (names unknown). 

196. Abel. Skowhegan, Me.; married about 1816; died about 
1865. Wife, Sally Hutchinson; 7 children, Emily, Elinor, Sybil, 
Abel, Philena, Mary, Ruel. 

197. Timothy. Skowhegan, Me., farmer; born, 1797; married, 
about 1816; died November 2, 1831 ; drowned. Wife, Abigail 
French; born Epping, N. H;, 1786; died, Portland, Me., December, 
1874; 3 children. John, Abbie, Timothy. 

198. Reuben. Palmyra, Mc. ; farmer; born, January 18, 1798; 
married first, June, 1822; married second, March 23, 1830; died, 
April 5, T878. First wife, Sally Malbon; 2 children, Daniel, 
James. Second wife, Harriet Horn; born June 15^, 1807; died, 
January 15, 1887; 3 children, Timoth}^ Charles, Sarah. 

199. Mary. Palmyra, Me.; born February 2, 1802; married, 
January i. 1823; died, January 16, 1893. Husband, George 
Pooler; born, October 5, 1799; died May 6, 1888; 6 children, Ebe|i, 
Timothy, Leander, Daniel, Mary. 



FAMILY REGISTER .57 

199a. Betsy. Palmyra, Me.; born, June, 1799; married, Jan- 
uary 21, 1823 ; died, November 8, 1850. Husband, Jonathan Rob- 
inson, farmer; born, March 5, 1800; died, March 16, 1879; 9 chil- 
dren, Daniel, Thomas, Lucinda, Louisa, Ann, Cyrus, John, Frank, 
Randolph. 

200. Lucinda. St. Albans, Me. ; died about 1855. Husband, 
John French ; farmer ; i child, Margaret. 

201. Daniel. Skowhegan, Me.; farmer; born, 1809; married, 
first, 1831 ; died, Hampden, March 28, 1879. First wife, Martha 
Nason, of Athens ; 2 children, Daniel, Samuel. 

202. Hannah. W. Pittsfield, Me.; born 1810; married about 
1829; died August 3, 1893. Husband, Moody Patten; farmer; 
died March 7, 1880, aged 75; 10 children, Seth, Benjamin, Joshua, 
Sybil, George, Harriet, Frances, Abel, Oscar, Josiah. 

203. Seth. Skowhegan, Me.; farmer; born, March 18, 181 1; 
married February 21, 1837; died January 12, 1885. Wife, Har- 
riet T. Heald, daughter of Cyrus and Millie^ Oaks (106); born 
December 14, 1815; living 1895; i child, Augustus. 

204. Franklin; died at 14. 

205. Margaret; died unmarried. 



LAMBERT. Millie3 Oaks, Jonathan ^ (8). 

This would doubtless be one of the larger if the record were 
complete ; but there is but slight prospect of making it so. It 
contains about 300 names, with 60 in the male Lambert line. 

IV. CHILDREN OF SHEREBIAH AND MILLIE' OAKS 

(31). 
Bom Skowhegan, Me. 

206. Daniel. St. Paul, Minn. ; born March i, 1788; 5 children, 
Richard, James, Daniel, Pamelia, Ann. 

207. David. Iowa (?); born January 17, 1790. 

208. Solomon. Livonia, Mich.; farmer; born May 15, 1792; 
2 children, William, Mary. 



58 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

209. Lydia A. Born October 20, 1794; married about i8iop 
died February 5, 1883 (or January 11, 1881). Husband, William 
Brawn (Braun or Brann) ; 12 children, David, Hannah, Richard 
Lambert, Sherebiah, James, Henry, Peter, Robert, Mercy, Pa- 
melia, Frank B., WilHam, Thomas. 

210. Willard. Livonia, Mich.; farmer; born March 9, 1797. 

211. Richard. Skowhegan, Me.; farmer; born July 6, i799r 
married, December 25, 1823; died, February 25, 1880. Wife, 
Rhoda Gulliver; born October 22, 1798; died December 18, 1893; 
4 children, Ruel, Sarah, William, John. 

212. James. Skowhegan, Me.; Michigan; Canada; born, July 
13, 1801 ; twice married; 10 children. Green, William, James, 
Pamelia, Lamar, George, Albert, Loren, Caroline, Clarissa. 

213. Robert. Bloomfield, Me.; lumberman; born April 9, 
1804; married about 1827; died December 31, 1834; killed by a 
falling tree. Wife, Azuba Parker; 5 children, Thomas, Charles,. 
Rhoda, Azuba, Lovina. 

214. Mary Homsted. Levant, Me. ; born August i, 1807; mar- 
ried about 1823 ; died November 24, 1878. Husband, Levi Curtis; 
died December, 1863; 9 children, John Wesley, James C, Isaac, 
John Wesley, Samuel Osborn, Levi, Emeline, Richard Lambert,. 

William. 

215. Martha. Lowell, or Enfield, Me.; born December 11, 
181 1. Husband, Eben Doane; 6 children, Pamelia, Eben, Han- 
nah, Mary, Ruel, Sarah. 



SAMPSON. Mary3 Oak, Jonathan^ (8). 

This is the largest of the main branches of the tribe, with over 
1,100 names, with 100 in the male line. The record is still far 
from complete. By many the name is written "Samson." The 
published genealogy of the family contains something on the 
early generations. The Hist. Ashburnham, Mass., has been very 
helpful ; and many have proved good correspondents. 

Especial credit is due to Levi J. Sampson of Braceville, Ohio. 



FAMILY REGISTER 59 

IV. CHILDREN OF JONATHAN AND MARY' OAK (21). 

216. Jonathan. Ashburnham, Mass. ; farmer, born, Middle- 
boro, May 7, 1759; married, February 21, 1782; died, December 9, 
1846 (or 1847). A Revolutionary soldier, serving 5 or 6 enlist- 
ments; and a prominent citizen. Wife, Susanna Rice, daughter 
of Zebulon of Berlin; born March 22, 1759; died, July 30, 1850; 8 
children, Mary, Dolly, Jonathan, Margaret, Mary, Sally, Abraham, 
Isaac ; all born in Boylston. 

217. Mary. Ashburnham, Mass.; born May 4, 1761 ; married 
October 17, 1785 ; died December 23, 1817. Husband, Moses Tot- 
tingham, son of Elisha^ and Sarah (Lawrence) ; born Woburn, 
July 22, 1746; died, 183 1 ; 8 children, Mary Elizabeth, Sarah, 
Moses, Asa, Ephriam, David, Abram. 

218. Abraham. Westminster, Mass.; blacksmith; born May 
23 (or 22), 1763 ; died, December 21, 1845. Revolutionary soldier. 
Wife, Sally Adams, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Baker); 
no children, 

219. Lydia. Rindge, N. H. ; born August i, 1764; married 
August 2, 1782; died September i, 1840. Husband, Edward 
Whitmore, son of Josephs and Mary (Marion) ; born August 12, 
1763; died November 15, 1841 ; 9 children, Patty, Oliver, Sally, 
Lydia, Emma, Isaac, Levi, Zoa, Joseph. 

220. Oliver. Ashburnham, Mass. ; farmer, and prominent 
Methodist; born September 22, 1766; married 1789; died, January 
15, 1835; Wife, Abigail Sawin, daughter of John and Mary 
(Whitney) ; born 1769; died February 19, 1843; 8 children, Nancy, 
Abigail, Oliver, Nancy, Amos, Mary, Almira, Stephen. 

221. Ephraim. Crown Point, N. Y. ; born June 9, 1769; mar- 
ried about 1790; died February 15, 1853. Wife, Olive Gates; 12 
children, Amos, Ephriam, Jeremiah, Betty, Levi, Ivers, Louisa, 
Almon, Abraham, Loyal, Olive, Miron. 

222. Moses; born March 26, 1771 ; died unmarried; a hunter 
and trapper, from whom Sampson's Pond, Franklin Co., N. Y., 
was named. 

223. Relief. Princeton, Mass. ; born February 8, 1773. Hus- 
band, John Winch. Descendants not found. 

224. Lucy. Crown Point, N. Y., born New York, April 23 (or 
May 12,) 1775; married February 25, 1798; died April 23, 1835 (or 



60 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

'38). Husband, Levi-* Bigelow (153), her cousin; 9 children, 
Olive, Ephraim, Polly, Ransom, Levi, Lucy, Calvin, Desta, Ros- 
well. 

225. John. Born July 10, 1777; died unmarried. 

226. Rebecca Barnard. Willsboro, N. Y. ; born May 30, 1780; 
married September 10, 1805; died August 8, 1845. Husband, 
Daniel Rand; born January 28, 1729; died April 10, 1850; 12 
children: Stillman, Eley, Jarvis, Emeline, Lucy, Louisa, Mary, 
Ephraim, Rebecca, Emerson, Barnard, Robert. 

227. Solomon. Malone, N. Y. ; from Weybridge, Vt. ; born 
January 26. 1783. 

228. Betsy. Born April 19, 1785; died unmarried. 



SEARS. Lois3 Oaks, Jonathan^ (8). 

IV. CHILDREN OF WILLARD AND LOIS' OAKS (29). 

229. Fanny. Skowhegan, Me.; born Canaan, March 20, 1794; 
married about 1815; died January 11, 1880. Husband, James 
Brawn (Braun or Brown), son of Thomas ; born August 18, 1791 ; 
died November 18, 1852 ; 6 children, Lois, Francis, Adeline, Julia 
Ann, Henrietta, Judith Ann Longley. 

230. Thomas. Parkman, Me.; farmer; Captain of Militia and 
town official ; lived also in Wellington ; born Cornville, January 
14. 1795; married first, Sebec, Me., about 1818; married second, 
1830; married third, after 1850; died, Sebec, June 28, 1878. First 
wife, Polly Head; died August 12, 1830; 5 children, Sumner, Levi, 
Armina, Sabina, Thomas. Second wife, Susan Head; died 
August, 1849; 6 children, Mary, Jane, Emily, Hiram, Lois, Wil- 
lard. Third wife, Sarah Coffin (perhaps widow Wood) ; no chil- 
dren. 



FAMILY REGISTER 61 

STILES. Tabitha3 Oak, Nathaniel^^ (2). 

IV. CHILDREN OF DAVID AND TABITHA* OAK (12). 
Bom probably Westminster, Mass. 

231. Minda. Born October 21, 1766. Husband, Nathaniel 
Briggs; 6 children, names not given. 

232. Rhoda. Norwich, Vt. ; born December 20, 1767; married 
1804. Husband, Ephraim Smith; 2 children, names not given. 

233. Eunice. Born June 30, 1769; died unmarried. 

234. David. Putney, Vt. ; born, August 19, 1771 ; married, 
1792. Wife, Elizabeth Lippenwell (widow Wyman), of Fitzwil- 
liam, N. H. (or Weston, Vt.) ; 10 children, David, Joseph, Eph- 
raim, Mark, Oren, Elhannon, Hosea, Philander, Harriet, Miranda. 

235. Gideon. Born August 29, 1773 ; married November, 
1819; died, April 12, 1829. Wife, Lydia Wyman; 3 children, Gid- 
eon, Lydia, Minerva. 

236. Kezia. Born June 24, 1775; n arried first, October 28, 
1798; married second, 1804. First husband, Wm. Brooks; 2 chil- 
dren. Second husband, David Bemis; 5 children, no names given. 

237. Nathaniel. Rockingham, Vt. ; farmer; born June 22, 

1777; married first about 1805; married second ; died, 1829. 

First wife, Lucy Crosby. Second wife, Mary Tuft, of Towns- 
hend, Vt. ; born July 12, 1783; 5 children, Caroline, Henry, Ade- 
line, Catherine, Cromwell. 



This ends the record of the four generations. The manuscript 
record on hand includes the most of the 5th, 6th and 7th genera- 
tions and some data down to the 8th and 9th generation. 

The volume of autographs includes about 1000 names and the 
volume of photographs includes several hundred persons to 
both of which I am adding as fast as received. 

Vol. IV (Collateral Pedigree) Contains the names and genea- 
logical information of 545 families with which the Oak tribe are 
intermarried. So to the genealogist this is the most valuable 
and interesting volume of the set. 



62 OAK— OAKS— OAKES 

In printing this record, I have followed as far as possible the 
language of the compiler. Doubtless could he have revised the 
final proofs he would have made some changes in wording which 
the writer did not feel authorized to make. 

He would also have avoided some of the errors which I have 
made through ignorance and inexperience in this line of work. 

It is with both joy and regret that I send out this little volume. 
Joy that the early record, so hard to obtain, and which if not now 
preserved would never again be made, is safe from loss. That the 
manuscript volumes were not destroyed by the earthquake and 
fire in San Francisco, in April, 1906, was because the administra- 
tor of Mr. Oaks' estate happened to keep them at his residence in 
Oakland instead of at his office in San Francisco, which with its 
contents was totally consumed. 

It affords me great relief to know that such a danger has 
passed, for while to most the record is of no importance, to a few 
it is priceless. 

While embracing less than 250 out of the 10,000 recorded de- 
scendants, it covers the period most difficult to investigate, and 
about 150 years of time, and connects our lives with those of our 
ancestors of 1776, whose record we can but be proud of, and the 
knowledge of whose services is worth more than the whole cost 
of the work. 

I feel regret that the printed record is not brought down to date 
and more details given of the lives of many of those recorded. 
While it comes down to our grandparents, it leaves out the later 
generations, and I fear it may be years before the branch records 
will be printed. While I am thankful to those who have helped 
to bear the burden, still I realize that the number interested is 
pitifully small and unless some one or some few in each branch 
are "moved" to assist materially, the record will not get into 
print. 

Meanwhile I stand ready to assist as far as possible any who 
care to trace their pedigree down to date, and keep the record 

complete. 

ORA OAK. 
Cucamonga, San Bernardino Co., Cal., Nov. 1906. 



HENRY LEBBEUS OAK 



Historical Writer and 
Genealogist 



'A life devoid of praise or fame, yet nobly spent." 



A BRIEF SKETCH BY HIS BROTHER, 

ORA OAK 

CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA 



5 A5 



HENRY LEBBEUS OAK 



Believing that every descendant of the Oak tribe will be 
interested in a sketch of the life of the compiler of the Oak Gene- 
alogy, and also of his historical work which preceded this, the 
writer undertakes the task, albeit both a sad and pleasant one. 

Rarely does it fall to the lot of any one man to accomplish so 
much and receive so little recognition, or appreciation, of his 
work. 

Henry Lebbeus was of the 6th generation descended through 
Nath|', John*, Nath.3, Benj.*, Lebbeuss. Born in Garland, Pe- 
nobscot county, Maine, (26 miles north of Bangor) on May 13, 
1844. 

Of his paternal ancestry to Benj. •* (70), this volume gives in- 
iormation. His father, Lebbeus, was the seventh child of Benj. 
and Hannah (Smith) Oak. Born in Boscawen, N. H., in 1820, he 
came with his parents to Garland, Me., when a lad of six 
years, where he, with his four brothers and one sister, spent 
their entire lives, excepting, in his case, the time spent 
in learning his trade of harness-maker, in Bangor, Me., and 
Haverhill, Mass., and two years spent in Los Angeles, Cal., 1898- 
1900, visiting his boys. He died in his old home in Garland in 
May, 1905, three days after Henry's death. Lebbeus received 
less benefit from his schooling than his brothers, but was a great 
reader, and a well informed man on all current events, national, 
state and local. 

Too old to enter the army in '61, he became captain of the 
home guards and later major of the state militia, and was active 
in filling Garland's quota of soldiers in the Civil War. He was 
well liked among his townspeople from the oldest to the young- 
est. Though on good terms with every one, genial social and 
witty, he was very averse to making social and formal calls. 

I seldom knew him to visit, even his near relatives, though 
much pleased to have any of them or neighbors drop in to spend 
an hour with him of a Sunday afternoon. 

This trait of aversion to society, calling and visiting, was even 



68 HENRY LEBBEUS OAK 

more marked in Henry than in his father, causing him to lose, 
or miss, many opportunities to make valuable acquaintances and 
lasting friends, for it is to be noted that despite his feeling to 
the contrary, to be once his friend was to remain his friend. 
Always pleasant and courteous to those whom his duties or 
chance threw in his way, he never made the slightest exertion to 
cultivate or extend acquaintanceship. When he could not escape 
a social function, he became the life of it. 

Henry's mother, Sarah Elizabeth (Merriam) was a quiet, 
thoughtful, devout woman, loved by all who knew her, and was as 
near perfection as mortals attain. 

Though slight of form and frail of health, yet she was all a 
mother could be to her growing family. She died in t886. Her 
line of recorded ancestors, compiled by her son largely from 
printed records, runs back much farther than on the father's side. 
Joseph Merriam, the immigrant of 1638, to Concord, Mass., was 
a son of William Miriam and Sara Burges, of Hadlow, Kent, 
England, and her line included both Abram and Ezra Merriam, 
father and son, who served in the War of the Revolution. Our 
mother was also a great grand-daughter, on her father's side, of 
Oliver Elliot, of Mason, N. H., a Revolutionary soldier, and also 
on her mother's side (Sally Hill-Merriam), a descendant of John 
Bo5nnton, immigrant from England in 1638, whose wife, Ellen 
Pell, was of a long English pedigree. Henry's literary bent seems 
to have come largely from his mother's side of the family. Our 
mother's grandfather, Ebenezer Hill, was a Congregational min- 
ister of Mason, N. H., and mother received a legacy of a few hun- 
dred dollars from an uncle, John Boynton Hill. This money she 
devoted to Henry's education, he being her first born and early 
showing considerable mental ability, in the fond hope and ex- 
pressed wish that he too should become a minister of the gospel. 

He sincerely desired to carry out her ambition for him, but his 
peculiar temperament and mental mechanism made it impossible, 
and the fact clouded both their lives. 

As a lad at school Henry was bright and quick to learn and 
generally knew his lessons, though seldom caught studying. He 
was of slender build, with light curly hair and bright ways that 
made him a favorite with the teachers and a leader with the boys. 

L. O. Merriam, of Minneapolis, Minn., his cousin, school-mate 
and afterwards his college class and room-mate, writes thus of 
his early school days. 



SCHOOL AND COLLEGE YEARS 69 

"As a boy, Henry was always easily the first. He was leader 
in everything. His remarkable physical qualities made him very 
popular among the boys. He could run faster, swim better, play 
better ball, jump farther, climb higher, and was more of an 
athlete in every way than any other boy in school. He was 
popular with the girls for the same reasons combined with a 
quick wit and an attractive personality. Because of his excellent 
scholarship, he was popular with the teachers. No school ever 
brought out his full capacity for work. The ease with which 
he mastered everything, left him plenty of time and energy to 
be turned in other lines, not always to the benefit of his school 
standing." 

Of his boyhood in his autobiography, Henry says : 

"Henry Oak, the oldest grandchild of Capt. Benjamin, was as 
a boy very quick to learn ; but unambitious and indolent, and 
otherwise showing no very marked qualities, good or bad. Drift- 
ing along with his classes in the public and high schools, doing 
such work as he could not avoid in his father's garden, woodshed 
and harness shop, he found himself at 17 fitted for college, and, 
his mother having received an unexpected legacy of a few hun- 
dred dollars and mother-like placing it at the disposal of her son, 
he was able to enter Bowdoin College in 1862. In college as at 
school he had no difficulty in taking high rank in the recitation 
room and secured the honor of a 'Junior Part' and assistant libra- 
rianship; but otherwise he had not sense enough to derive any 
real benefit from the course, giving more attention to gymnastics 
than to his studies, doing no useful reading, making no effort to 
take advantage of much needed social opportunities, and indulg- 
ing in the usual foolish college pranks, though his poverty kept 
him from the more ruinous forms of dissipation. Finally, being 
suspended with many others, and being the last permitted to 
return, he left Bowdoin with his classmate, George R. Williams, 
and a year later was graduated without honors from Dartmouth 
in 1865." 

Some of us have learned that a boy who is "indolent" and "un- 
ambitious," does not often find himself "fitted for college" at 17. 
The last term fitting for college, Henry, with his cousin Leander, 
walked to Exeter Corner, 3^ miles and back each day. Nothing 
specially indolent about that. 

His criticism on his course in college is probably a just one, 
but who does not look back with regret on wasted opportunities. 



70 HENRY LEBBEUS OAK 

and misapplied energies? Of his college career his cousin, L. O. 
Merriam, writes : 

"In college it was just the same. Before we had finished the 
first term of our Freshman year, Henry had dropped into his cus- 
tomary place among the first. While his class rank was always 
good, his popularity with the class-mates was even better. He 
devoted a great deal of time to the gymnasium, with remarkable 
success. But one in the class could compete with him in ath- 
letics. 

"When we reached the dignity of Sophomores, he had estab- 
lished himself as a leader and could always be depended on to 
do his full share both as a scholar and an athlete. Of course, he 
had to take a hand in the 'larks' then considered a necessary part 
of the Sophomore year, and there as elsewhere was second to 
no one." 

The whole class were suspended for "cutting" one of the reci- 
tations of an unpopular tutor, and refusal to apologize and "make 
up." That young Oak was considered a leader is shown by the 
fact that he was the last to be allowed to return. 

This evidently made him dissatisfied with Bowdoin, for he 
soon left Bowdoin for Dartmouth. Of his life at Dartmouth, I 
have not been able to get details, his cousin quoted above having 
entered the army and the currents of their lives never having 
again joined. But that Dartmouth held her place in his esteem 
is established by the fact that to his "alma mater" he left one 
of the two published sets of his historical works in eleven vol- 
umes. From his autobiography we quote: 

"During the college course he taught four terms in the public 
schools of Exeter, Garland and Westport, Me., with one term of 
high school in his native village. Later he taught one year as 
assistant in the Morris Academy, Morristown, N. J. As a 
teacher he had but slight success, not liking the profession, and 
having no natural fitness for it." 

Having been a pupil under him, I can testify that in school he 
was a strict disciplinarian, and kept the scholars "up in the 
collar" and imparted plenty of instruction, but by fear of hia 
rod rather than by the force of his arguments. He was a snccesg- 
ful, though not popular teacher. No labor was too great to help 
an ardent seeker after knowledge, and no punishment too severe 
for an indolent or unruly pupil. 

When the war of '6i broke out, Henry was eager to enlist, aa 



TO CALIFORNIA 71 

did his cousin, Leander, two years his senior, but the protests 
of his parents prevailed, and he continued his college course to 
'65. His autobiography again tells the story : 

"In July, 1866, he went to California by steamer from New 
Jersey, and took a position as clerk in charge of a grain ware- 
house in Petaluma. But sickness, hitherto unknown, forced him 
to give up the place ; and his life was saved only by the kind 
attentions of Mr. Williams, his classmate at Dartmouth, and his 
sister, Mrs. Laura J. Barstow. On partial recovery he was 
forced again to resort to teaching, and in 1867 taught one term as 
principal of the Haywards public schools, and one term as assist- 
ant — acting principal — of the Napa Collegiate Institute. After 
months of idleness, and on the point of engaging another school, 
he obtained in 1868 a position as office editor of the San Francisco 
Occident, in which I believe he gave tolerable satisfaction to all 
concerned — except perhaps the readers. He also edited then 
and later some guide books and other minor publications issued 
by the publishers of the paper. 

"Early in 1869 he became Librarian of the Bancroft Library of 
San Francisco, a position which he held for 18 years to 1887. 
Besides his duties as librarian, he was Superintendent of the lit- 
erary industries, carried on in the institution and resulting in the 
publication of the Bancroft Works in 39 volumes. Of these he 
was also the author of 10 volumes as follows : In the Native 
Races, Vol. I, Chap. Ill, on the 'Columbians'; Vol, II, Chap. II, 
'General View of Civilized Nations' ; Chap. XVII, 'Aztec Picture- 
Writing'; Chap. XXIV, on "Maya Hieroglyphics' ; Vol. IV, "An- 
tiquities,' the entire volume; and Vol. V, 'Primitive History,' 
Chap. II - X, on Nahua annals and the earliest Maya records — 
also some other small matters, making in the Native Races 1597 
pages out of a total of 4000. In the History of the Pacific States 
Mr. Oak wrote seven and a half consecutive volumes on the 
annals of the Spanish Northwest, as follows :.. North Mexican 
States I, the entire volume ; Arizona and New Mexico, the entire 
volume ; California, I-V, five entire volumes ; and Northwest 
Coast I, first half on maritime explorations. Also of id. II, Chap. 
XV-XVI, on the 'Oregon Question' ; Central America I, Chap II, 
'Summary of Geographical Knowledge and Discovery' ; and Cali- 
fornia VI, Chap. XX, 'Mexican Land Titles.' Two sets of these 
writings have been bound separately with new titles, and an 
nnpublished pamphlet on the authorship of the entire work and 



72 HENRY LEBBEUS OAK 

the Bancroft Methods. Mr. Oak's work as a writer is not ac- 
knowledged by Mr. Bancroft, though credit is given for his serv- 
ices as librarian and superintendent. 

"To this historical work the author gave all his ability and 
energy. His resources of original material had never been 
equalled in writing the annals of early American territory. Every 
detail was treated conscientiously according to the best of his 
judgment. The labor was immense; but this was the happiest 
period of his life ; for he was conscious of doing faithful work. 
Under these circumstances the author is naturally proud of his 
work, and believes in its merits. Yet his belief does not make it 
so; and the balance of evidence is against him. The volumes are 
neglected by the public, and — though no critic has attempted to 
controvert his conclusions or impeach his honesty — ignored or 
sneered at by scholars generally. The author has yet a faint hope 
that in time, when the prejudice against the Bancroft name and 
enterprise shall have died out, some merit may be recognized in 
the records that have cost him so many years of toil." 

These years from 1869 to 1887 were strenuous years in the life 
of Henry L. Oak. His mind matured early, and his judgment at 
25 was as sound as that of most men at 35. 

For three years he had been engaged in uncertain and uncon- 
genial work, and he now found a vocation for which he proved 
especially adapted and to which he gave his full vigor of mind 
and body. 

To understand his work and his relation to the Bancroft enter- 
prise, it is necessary to outline briefly the undertaking and its 
execution. The head of the enterprise, Hubert Howe Bancroft, 
12 years Mr. Oak's senior, came from Ohio to California in 1852. 
His ancestors, like Mr. Oak's, were of the old Puritan stock of 
Massachusetts. Mr. Bancroft did not have a college education, 
but had had business experience. He was an able, energetic 
young man, and opened a business as H. H. Bancroft & Co., 
Booksellers and Stationers. He was industrious, energetic, self- 
confident and inspiring confidence in others. His business grew 
by leaps and bounds, and the firm soon became the leading one in 
its line on the Pacific Coast. In the publishing of guide books 
to the different sections of the state was sprouted the seed which 
grew to the publishing of the History of the Pacific Coast. 



BANCROFT LIBRARY 73 

To accommodate the compiler of the "guides," all the books 
and maps relating to the coast were gathered on the table or 
shelves most convenient, and as the "guide" business grew the 
number of books increased until large enough to attract Mr. 
Bancroft's attention, and he realized that it would be a wise move 
to make a collection of all books and maps published relating to 
the Pacific Coast, and at it he went with zeal. 

In 1866-7, ^^- Bancroft made a trip to Europe, securing a large 
number of books, maps, etc., so that when Mr. Oak took charge 
of the library there was already a collection of 16,000 vplumes for 
him to classify, index and care for. 

In May, 1870, the library was moved to the Bancroft building, 
721 Market street, San Francisco, and housed on the fifth floor, 
in a room 35x170 feet, specially arranged for its reception. Mr. 
Oak also "roomed" on the fifth floor. The library constantly 
grew until it contained upwards of 50,000 volumes, much of it 
original manuscript of surpassing value. 

In 1881 the library was moved to a building erected for that 
purpose at 1538 Valencia street. There Mr. Oak spent six years 
of his life. 

This library included everything obtainable in print or manu- 
script, relating to the Pacific Coast, from Panama to Alaska. 
No other collection approaching this in completeness can be 
made or has been attempted. The decision as to what to buy 
was largely left to Mr. Oak's judgment, as well as the sifting of 
the chaflF from the wheat after the material arrived. Mr. Oak re- 
mained librarian during all the productive life of the library. 
Since he left it in 1887 it has lain idle until recently sold by Mr. 
Bancroft to the University of California — and removed to Berke- 
ley. It was not injured by the earthquake and fire of April, 1906. 

When Mr. Oak began work for Mr. Bancroft in '69, no ques- 
tion of salary was raised. He was willing to accept whatever 
Mr. Bancroft offered, and during the 18 years' service Oak never 
asked for a raise in salary, though Mr. Bancroft several times 
voluntarily increased his pay, and Oak once, after a serious fire, 
reduced his own salary. His pay, though larger than that of any 
other in the library, was not more than half that paid at that 
time, in an equally responsible position, in commercial houses of 
San Francisco. The financial outcome of the "History Busi- 
ness" was problematical from the beginning, and there were 



f4 HENRY LEBBEUS OAK 

numerous obstacles and setbacks, such as fires and financial 
stringencies that threatened at times to stop the work. Mr. Ban- 
croft reahzed and acknowledged that he was not paying Mr. Oak 
as he deserved, but his plausible excuse was that it was all out- 
go and no income, but when the tide turned and the bread cast 
upon the waters came back buttered toast, "Oak should be amply 
provided for." To insure Mr. Oak's continuing in the library in 
case of his (Mr. Bancroft's) death, he made a provision in his will 
that Oak should receive $10,000 and full authority in the library 
to complete the work in hand. How Mr. Bancroft kept his prom- 
ises we shall see later. 

With the library an accomplished fact, the question arose, How 
best to utilize it. Mr, Bancroft was not the man to lock up a 
quarter of a million dollars in books to lie idle. He had achieved 
commercial success. He was a fluent writer. He thirsted for 
literary fame ; for a reputation as the Historian of the Pacific 
Coast; and after numerous trials and experiments, it was deter- 
mined to write first as a preliminary work, "The Native Races 
of the Pacific Coast," which was issued in 1875 in five volumes 
and was accorded a satisfactory reception and established Mr. 
Bancroft's reputation as a writer and historian. Nearly half of 
that work was written by Henry L. Oak. 

Of Mr. Oak, Mr. Bancroft says in his "Literary Industries": 

"I have often regarded it as remarkable that so true and con- 
scientious a friend, so faithful a librarian and laborer should so 
early and opportunely come my way. 

"In him were combined in a remarkable degree, those rare 
and admirable qualities essential to the work. This man had 
certainly found his vocation and fitted himself to it perfectly. 
Ability, application, endurance, clear-headedness and sound judg- 
ment united with patience and enthusiasm, enabled him to tram- 
ple down many of the obstacles that constantly beset our path. 
Pleasant and affable to all around him, he sought no man's com- 
pany. Methodical in his habits, having little to do with society, 
he fastened his mind upon the work, and there kept it day after 
day and year after year. No one ever has known, or ever will 
know the early history of California or the Spanish Northwest 
as we knew it." (Originally written as "Oak knew it.") 

"Oak was plain of speech. Without dogmatism, he had an 
opinion and usually a clear and correct one, on almost every 



LIBRARIAN 75 

current topic, particularly if it were connected with his work or 
the library, and in the expression of opinion he was not timid. 
It has been my custom from the beginning to discuss freely with 
him, and others, every question of importance arising in my 
work. Often radical difTerences of opinion have arisen between 
Oak and myself, but during the many pleasant years we have 
labored together, the first unkind word has yet to be spoken. 

"It is a remarkable fact that this man (Oak) is the only live 
Yankee to find permanent occupation in my work. Working in 
the library at one time, I have had representatives from England, 
Ireland and Scotland, from France, Germany and Switzerland; 
from Russia, Poland, Spain and Italy, with but one from any 
part of the United States. But let me say that this one, in re- 
gard to ability, integrity and life-devotion to me and my cause, 
was surpassed by none." (Originally written "surpassed them 
all.") 

These words of testimony show what Mr. Bancroft thought 
of Mr. Oak's ability, integrity and fidelity. 

The intimacy and companionship of the two men were much 
more close than Mr. Bancroft would naturally put in print. Each 
man was a complement of the other, and together they made a 
complete unit, working in harmony and with skill. 

Mr. Bancroft was expansive in his ideas. No common busi- 
ness, no common library, no ordinary publication, would satisfy 
him. He must be leader in all that he undertook. His eye was 
ever on the end ; the means he would leave to others. He was 
sanguine, bold, aggressive. Mr. Oak was conservative, cautious, 
exact, never to be caught in error if care could prevent it. He 
was obviously the man to carry out the details of Mr. Bancroft's 
large conceptions. Mr. Bancroft had the means and the will; 
Mr. Oak had the patience and skill to work out the various prob- 
lems as they came up. Their relations were more intimate than 
those of an ordinary employer and employee. They were more 
than friendly. Mr. Bancroft did everything that Mr. Oak would 
permit to make his task congenial. He invited him to his home, 
introduced him to his friends, gave literary visitors to under- 
stand that Mr. Oak was authority in all matters pertaining to 
the library, etc., etc. He paid him the largest salary of any of his 
helpers, and then acknowledged that Mr. Oak's manuscript was 
the least expensive of any. In fact, Mr. Bancroft left all the 



76 HENRY LEBBEUS OAK 

detail of the arrangement, management of the library, the su- 
perintendence of the writing, and arrangement of the publica- 
tion to Mr. Oak, The other men all took their instructions and 
reported their work and delivered their manuscript to Mr. Oak, 
and Mr. Bancroft might as well have been away entirely, as he 
was in fact, very much of the time. And not only did Mr. Oak 
act as librarian and superintendent during all the critical years 
of the enterprise, but in addition he turned out more manuscript 
in neater shape than any other of the writers. 

Mr. Bancroft was away much of the time looking up authori- 
ties on special points, making friends with prominent people 
and writing current history with a local flavor. 

In addition to the quotations from Mr. Bancroft's printed testi- 
mony, my brother left quite a collection of Mr. Bancroft's letters, 
from which I quote to show his continued confidence in my 
brother, and also to show to what extent Mr. Bancroft left the 
work in his hands. 

He writes in one letter: "Do as you have done heretofore, 
and possibly a little more so. You may prepare and publish and 
take the pay for, in the Overland or Eastern magazines, just as 
many articles as you please, using all you like of the cuts.". 

"As I said before, the whole force on that volume at the outside 
will turn out three or four galleys a week, while you single- 
handed, with all your proof-reading, will do six." 

In another letter: "See that every man about the premises 
does good work, and you may discharge on the spot. You and 
I can finish the work (Native Races) if we don't have a single 
other man." 

Again: "I have just made a new lease with Heney. This 
will add $450 a month to our income — so that everything looks 
lovely." 

"I am fully determined if I live and am prospered, to take you 
and Kate (his daughter) and go to Europe and stay there until 
we get tired of it. By the time we are ready to go, our work 
will be so well known that we ought to be able to derive enjoy- 
ment from it. 

"Now, without unforeseen misfortune (after a favorable report 
from A. L. Bancroft on the condition of the business) we can 
consummate our plans in splendid shape. There are three things 
to do: 



LITERARY WORK 77 

I. Go to" Mexico. 

II. Finish our work. 

III. Go to Europe. 

Yes, and one more, not to plan any more books." 

It may be noted that while Mr. Bancroft went to Mexico, to 
Europe and all over the United States, enjoying constant change 
and recreation, Mr. Oak remained at his desk, working from four- 
teen to sixteen hours a day, attending to the details of proof- 
reading and the work of the others by day and writing his own 
portion of the manuscript at night, until overcome by insomnia, 
dyspepsia and nervous prostration, he was forced to leave the 
library, as soon as he had finished the History of California to 
1849. 

This in a letter of May, '85, when the work was being printed, 
indicates whether Mr. Oak was a writer or only a "swamper." 

"I would like for you to finish up the whole five volumes on 
California as soon as possible. You may command all the print- 
ers and all the type. Mr. Stone (manager of publishing depart- 
ment) will see that nothing interferes with the prompt execution 
of your work. You may omit any work on them which stands in 
the way of their quick completion." 

"You can go on and close up the whole five volumes just as 
soon as you can, using your own judgment about everything. 
I am perfectly willing to omit the chapter you propose if you 
think best." 

"You can go on and close up the volumes on California with- 
out sending me proof." 

What stronger evidence could be had as to who wrote the His- 
tory of California? 

"Mrs. Jackson (Helen Hunt) says, if you will let her see your 
manuscript on California, she would submit to you any thing 
or idea she gets from it. I told her I would let her look it over 
if you had no objections." 

Not so bad, that, as evidence as to who wrote the manuscript. 

Mr. Bancroft writes in 1876: 

"Your biography will not be out of place. You say you are 
not known in the world of letters. I say you should be, and 
that is just what I propose to do. You have done the work, and 
it is no more than right the world should know it. I don't mean 
to say exactly what and everything you have written. The fact 



78 HENRY LEBBEUS OAK 

is I should be ashamed to own it up. But I propose next to my 
sweet self, to give you the credit for the manner in which this 
Pacific Coast work has been done, and that I take it is simple 
justice." 

Not only did Mr. Bancroft not acknowledge my brother's 
share of the literary work, but on finally going to print cut out 
much that he had previously written eulogistic of him. 

Some conception may be had of Mr. Oak's work when wc 
learn that he was the virtual author of eleven volumes of history 
of about looo pages each, which involved the consultation and 
comparison of the works of hundreds of writers, in thousands of 
volumes in Spanish, French, Italian and German, as well as 
English ; that all the evidence had to be sifted, the facts ascer- 
tained and then set forth in good language, with proper refer- 
ences, covering centuries of time and thousands of miles of ter- 
ritory, 

Mr. Oak never strove to be ornate. He set forth the simple 
facts, and his conclusions, in the simplest possible language. 
Mr. Bancroft read the proof and occasionally added an adjective 
or struck out a qualifying phrase, and proclaimed himself the 
author. Had Mr. Oaks done nothing but write these volumes, 
the fact would be worthy of record, but while doing 
this work he also supervised the work of the other writers, 
men of many different nationalities and dispositions. To keep 
this force harmonious and enthusiastic and in touch with the 
main idea was no small task. He did all this and more, but it 
broke him down when yet a young man. Not only had Mr. Oak 
to keep the other writers keyed up to a concert pitch, that they 
might turn out the required amount of manuscript daily, but he 
had also to keep Mr. Bancroft toned down to a practical basis. 

Mr. Bancroft strove for effect, Mr. Oak for facts. If it sounded 
right it was good enough for Mr. Bancroft. He insisted on 
quantity, not quality. Mr. Oak insisted on absolute accuracy, 
and on this rock they finally split. Mr. Oak absolutely refused to 
do shoddy work, and when reviewed by competent critics and 
future historical searchers, his work (Spanish Northwest, Vols. 
I-II, and California I-V) will be found to stand the test. 

Mr. Bancroft, pressed by circumstances, was eager to begin 
printing and publishing; and to receive the reward of his labors. 
Mr. Oak held back, wishing every point to be exact and correct 



HISTORICAL WORK 79 

before going into print. Mr. Bancroft's authority of course was 
paramount, and the later work was hurried. Writers were 
rushed and shoddy work was done, consequently when the work 
was finally published and went to the critics, it was picked to 
pieces, ruthlessly unjustly criticised and condemned. The outer 
bark being rough, the whole tree, root and branch, was declared 
unsound. Perhaps the blow fell harder on Mr. Oak than on 
Mr. Bancroft. I think it did. As an old friend expressed it on 
reading his autobiography, "His whole soul thirsted for the 
recognition which he knew his work merited." Mr, Bancroft, 
while a good writer, always commanding attention and inspiring 
interest, was not a good historian. He built a showy edifice, 
but had not the patience to establish his foundations deep enough 
and secure enough to endure the storms and waves of criticism. 
His ambition o'erleaped itself. The work he claimed to have done 
was beyond the power of any one man. Had he been satisfied to 
acknowledge himself as what he could perhaps rightfully claim 
to be, editor-in-chief — and had published the names and speci- 
fied the work of each of collaborators, his reputation would have 
been more savory and the ends of justice more nearly complied 
with. But he risked all, assumed authority for all, won out fin- 
ancially and made a fortune. What should he care for critics 
or reputation? 

What was the final result? From the day when Mr. Oak 
left the library in June, 1887, and started on a tour of the state, 
hoping to recover his health, and during the succeeding years 
leading his hermit life at Siegler's Springs, trying under the 
mountain pines to woo back the strength spent in Mr. Bancroft's 
interests, not a kind word nor an expression of interest or sym- 
pathy came from Mr. Bancroft. All claims were ignored, all 
promises forgotten. 

Surely, all graft is not confined to oil kings, beef barons and 
railway magnates. 

Mr. Bancroft stands convicted by his own testimony of pub- 
lishing as his own work, history of which he only read the proof- 
sheets. 

After waiting fourteen years for Mr. Bancroft to keep the 
promises he had so repeatedly made; his health gone, his means 
going, and his desire to print the family record, on which hte 
had spent ten years of hard labor, being uppermost in his mind, 



80 ■ HENRY LEBBEUS OAK 

Mr. Oak wrote Mr. Bancroft, calling his attention to long unful- 
filled promises, and asked financial help. Anticipating that Mr. 
Bancroft did not intend "making good," Mr. Oak had prepared 
the data, showing his share and that of the other collaborators 
of Mr. Bancroft in the work published as Mr. Bancroft's own, 
and unwisely made the printing of that record the alternative 
for Mr. Bancroft to consider. In his pamphlet, "Literary In- 
dustries in a New Light," Mr. Oak prints both his letter and 
Mr. Bancroft's brutal reply, from which I quote, "I doubt if 
authors are in the habit of giving their employees any credit at 
all," ttc. 

The foregoing is written not to eulogize my brother nor to 
defame Mr. Bancroft. Each has made his record and no one can 
change it. But I believe it my duty to place on record the detail 
and extent of my brother's work. Of the two bound copies of 
his historical writing, one is in Dartmouth College Library, and 
one I have. Of the pamphlet, "Literary Industries in a New 
Light," only a dozen or so were printed, and they are distributed 
among the historical societies and colleges of the Pacific Coast. 
This genealogical record will be more widely scattered, and it 
is hoped will fall into appreciative hands and his memory kept 
green by the family whose record he has done so much to pre- 
serve. I shall at least feel that I have placed on record some 
facts no one else could have supplied. 

Of his life after leaving San Francisco, Mr. Oak says in his 
autobiography : 

"Of course, his health broke down; he could no longer sleep; 
and having completed his task and saved a few thousand dollars 
he resolved to give up his little fight for fame and fortune and 
transfer his hermit life — for such it had been even in a great city 
— to the mountains. Accordingly in 1887 he settled at Siegler 
Springs, where a little later he built a cabin, and where he has 
lived with some degree of contentment — his companions being 
for the most part his books and pipe — ever since. His little capi- 
tal constantly dwindled ; but he hopes it may suffice for his small 
needs to the end. From 1891 he has spent his time and all the 
money he could spare in the preparation of this genealogic record, 
undertaken at first as a pastime and agreeable reminder of past 
historical research, and continued with an idea that somebody 
some time may deem it a work worth while having been done." 

After eight years of wonderful success in tracing the genealogic 



GENEALOGICAL WORK 81 

record of our family, considering the obstacles to be overcome 
and his distance from the birthplace of the family — he felt that 
the record should be printed, but when he appealed to the de- 
scendants for aid, he was again doomed to disappointment. The 
labor and expense of the work had been great and much as he 
wanted to publish the record, he did not feel warranted in ex- 
pending the necessary amount of money from his decreasing 
store, knowing that his earning capacity was gone, and fearing 
years of invalidism in a hospital or dependence upon relatives, 
which to him was still worse ; so in 1900 he stopped work and 
research. He had securely bound in morocco the four volumes 
of manuscript, three of photographs, and one of autographs., 
which are now in my possession. Not wishing to impose on any 
one the publication of the record ; perhaps thinking we did not 
care, he bequeathed the above volumes to the New England 
Historic Genealogic Society, of Boston, Mass., where they would 
be accessible, if any of the descendants cared to search them. 
The above society cheerfully and willingly loaned the volumes to 
the writer for the purpose of publication. In addition to the 
bound volumes, my brother also left duplicate volumes, ready, 
or nearly so, for the printer, which the writer found in his cottage 
after his death ; also hundreds of letters and packages of data and 
notes of all sorts and kinds. 

In his letter of instructions, written a year before his death, 
which he evidently thought might be sudden, he says : "Of such 
things (letters, manuscripts, clippings, photographs, etc.) take 
only what you want as relics for yourself or others of the family, 
but burn the rest. "In case of doubt, burn." 

I burned nothing. In his condition of mind, when this letter 
was written, he wished no record left. I consider it not only 
justice but duty to put on record the work he did and to preserve 
the data that may some day be of great benefit to some one. 
That in some day of deep depression he did not consign the whole 
accumulation to the flames appears almost providential. Evi- 
dently the lingering hope that some ship sent out freighted with 
hope might return with a more substantial cargo and enable him 
to carry out his cherished desire, restrained him. He could not 
destroy his own offspring — neither could I ! 

He left me not only the manuscript, but a part of his property, 
and while he did not instruct or request me to publish it. I should 



82 HENRY LEBBEUS OAK 

feel guilty if I did not devote at least a part of his means to that 
end and carry out his wishes to the best of my ability. 

His autobiography concludes : 

"It would be useless to deny that Mr. Oak as a result of his 
failures, especially as a writer, is in a sense a disappointed man, 
leading an embittered and unhappy life ; it is also well nigh cer- 
tain his unsocial qualities, his inability to gain influence over or 
the warm friendship of his fellow-men would have prevented any 
marked success in any sphere of action ; yet considering his con- 
dition, his radical defect of character, his long list of failures, his 
lack of practical business sagacity, his inherited tendency to de- 
spondency, his never-ending insomnia and ill health, and his lim- 
ited pecuniary resources, he may be regarded as surprisingly free 
from morbid despair; and perhaps as well contented as the aver- 
age of men. This is due in part to a sort of philosophic careless- 
ness respecting most matters, great and small, a habit of mind 
long cultivated in self-defense and proving in most cases an 
effective antidote to despondency and misanthropic views of life. 
If he can win no warm friendship he feels it for many; and in the 
later years he makes no bitter enemies. He counts on several 
years more of a not too burdensome life. In politics from being 
a Republican he has become essentially a "Mugwump," taking a 
deep interest, but no active part, in the broader political questions 
of the day. In religion he has long been a thorough Agnostic, 
yet in sympathy with any religious belief that helps men to be 
better. He has broken most of the commandments, and 
is sorry for it. He uses whiskey in moderation and tobacco 
to excess. If the Oaks of coming generations can find in his life 
any example to be carefully avoided they are welcome to the 
benefit, and his life will not have been lived altogether in vain." 

Mr. Oak died on May 20, 1905, in his cottage at Sieglers, being 
found dead on his bed, apparently having died suddenly and 
painlessly. His remains were cremated at the Oakland crema- 
tory, and his ashes rest in the columbarium of that institution. 
He never married. Mr. Oak was about 5 feet 10 inches in height, 
weighing 160 to 165 pounds, well muscled, but with no spare flesh. 
He had blue eyes, light wavy hair and a thick curly beard, which 
he generally wore full. He was quick of movement and every 
motion indicated force and energy. He had fine regular features ; 
was even handsome, a rarity in his branch of the Oaks. 
V The writer, the next younger brother of Henry L. Oak, after 



ORA OAK 83 

the usual common school training and one term at Foxcroft 
Academy and one year in a lumber mill in New Brunswick, and 
one term at the Maine State University, came to California at his 
brother's suggestion, in January, 1872. A place had been prom- 
ised him in the wholesale department of the Bancroft Company, 
but it was not vacant on his arrival, so he was admitted, or con- 
signed, to the fifth floor — Library department — until the down- 
stairs vacancy occurred. Consequently, he was inducted into 
history writing for several weeks, thereby earning a whole line in 
Bancroft's History as showing "marked ability," a reputation 
assuredly standing on the slightest foundation on record. Un- 
fortunately, the next line states that my work as well as that of 
several others "all amounted to nothing," owing to change of 
plans. 

After a few weeks I went into the wholesale department, but 
continued to live with my brother, who had rooms on the library 
floor. I spent my evenings and Sundays there and knew what 
was going on. I was well acquainted with nearly the whole 
force and kept in touch with the work as it progressed. Later 
I left the house and spent five years in Nevada, but in 1881 re- 
turned to the Bancroft establishment and became manager of the 
Mexican department, and spent the most of four years (1881-5) 
travelling in Mexico, first as salesman for the wholesale depart- 
ment, then as special agent for the History department, conse- 
quently I knew as much of the writing, making and selling of the 
Bancroft works as any one outside the principals. I spent six 
months in the City of Mexico, where I had the honor and pleas- 
ure of a personal interview with President Diaz, and met most of 
the military and literary men of Mexico. In 1886 I left the 
Bancroft house and came to Southern California. In 1887 "^y 
brother made a trip through the state for his health. My first 
wife died in June, 1887, and I soon after joined my brother at 
San Luis Obispo, and we journeyed together with a single horse, 
by slow stages, through to San Diego. I had just buried my 
wife; he had left all that made life dear to him. During that 
trip we threshed over life's straw pretty thoroughly, He told 
me things I had not before known. He had never been confi- 
dential. His own aflfairs he kept carefully to himself, but reserve 
was largely laid aside during that two weeks trip and what I 
write concerning the Bancroft enterprise was largely acquired 
then and added to what I already knew and have since learned. 



84 HENRY LEBBEUS OAK 

In San Diego I left him and returned to my boyhood home in 
Maine, after an absence of i6 years. In Henry's diary I found 
this entry: "Ora has gone, and the trip will be lonely." I can 
now reciprocate and truly say, "The journey is more lonely now 
that Henry is gone." 

At the end of that trip, after traversing the entire state, he set- 
tled at Siegler's, Lake county. After my return I settled in Ferris, 
Riverside county, and thereafter, though he visited me occasion- 
ally, I was too much engrossed in business and my own affairs 
to keep very close to his. I knew that he was working on the 
family record ; that he had found the family of William, the 
long lost, and he sent us charts showing the pedigree 
of our children, but I did not realize the magniture of the work 
he had done. While I was interested, I did not display as much 
appreciation as I now wish I had. 

In my brother's estimate of himself as shown in his auto- 
biography, the eccentric and marked traits show prominently. 
His defects were very largely imaginary. He was much esteemed 
by all with whom he associated in any caapcity. There was 
always an air of reserve that kept strangers at a distance, and his 
own afifairs he kept strictly to himself. He always felt a lack of 
confidence in his business judgment, yet he managed to keep the 
wolf at a greater distance than most literary men.. 

If I were to state what I think the greatest mistake of his life, 
which he invites other Oaks to avoid, it would be in not getting 
married. 

When he came to California in 1866 he was engaged to a most 
estimable young lady. His ill health and "bad luck" the first 
few years discouraged him, and he broke the engagement; after- 
wards the uncertainty of employment and inability to adapt him- 
self to other lines of work made him fearful, and he never mar- 
ried. Had he had a home life and home cares, much of his ill 
health and despondent tendencies might have been avoided. His 
long evenings in his mountain cottage with no companions save 
his open fire, his pipe, his books and his bitter memories, were too 
numerous, and excessive use of tobacco brought on rheum- 
atism of chest and heart, and finally killed him. 

"Disappointed joys are woes as deep as our clay human nature 
undergoes." 

FINIS 



INDEX 

(The reference is to numbers.) 



Adams, Daniel 218 

Sally 218 

Albee, Deborah 28 

Alexander 145-152 

Content 152 

Elias 19,147,150 

Elijah 149 

Grata 148 

Hannah 145 

Seth 19,146,151 

Alger, Sarah 75 

Allen, Ephraim 7 

Grace 23 

Susanna 7 

Ames, Eunice 69 

Sally 118 

Babcock, wid. Lydia 144 

Bailey, Emily 181 

Baker, Elizabeth 218 

Ball, Abigail 39 

Moses 41 

Phineas 10 

Barber, wid. Nancy 91 

Barker, David 27 

Barnard, Rebecca 8 

Robert 8 

Barnes, wid. Lucy 151 

Bartlett, Daniel 9 

Mercy 9 

Batchelder, Hepzibah 6G 

Beacon, Susanna 7 

Bemis, David 236 

Reziner 173 

Bennett, wid 96 

Bent, Capt. David 9 

Silas 51 

Susan 51 

Bevins, wid. Kate 94 

Big3low 153-63 

Amos 160 



Betsy 155 

Daniel 162 

Ebenezer 158 

John 23,157 

Jonathan 156 

Joseph 159 

Levi 153,224 

Nathan 23,154 

Polly 163 

Roscoe R., 23, 159 

Sally 161 

Billings, Charlotte 119 

Blackden, Joseph 164 

Mary 166 

Sarah 165 

William 24 

Blake, F. E 6 

Blin, Morning 28 

Blood, Samuel 46 

Bowman, wid 169 

Brawn, James 229 

Thomas 229 

William 209 

Breck, Rev 3 

Briggs, Nath'l 231 

Sarah 124 

Brooks, Wm 236 

Broughton, Charity 169 

Wait 169 

Brown, Lydia 30 

,Eleazer 131 

Burrill, Mary 87 

Butler, John 7,19 

Caldwell, Rachel 138 

Capron, Capt. Oliver 19 

Carey, Nabby 154 

Carsley, Rachel 97 

Cartlfind, Abigail 72" 

Elijah 72 

Chaffee, Lydia 57 



n 



Index 



Challis, Enoch 71 

Thomas 71 

Chilcott, Cath 159 

Nancy 160 

Choate, Martha 142 

Christie, John 88 

Church, Lizzie 134 

Clark, Capt. Sam 10 

Susanna 32 

Cleaves, Joseph 185 

Sarah 184 

Clifford, Fanny 171 

Clouiih, Noah 108 

Coburn, wid. Eliz 112 

Coffin. Sarah 230 

Collins, Margaret 141 

Sarah 90 

Colton, D. D 180 

Isaac 180 

Mercy 175 

Comins, Jon 38 

Conant 167-73 

Calvin 172 

Ebenezer 22 

Eben 171 

Elizabeth 170 

John 1, 25, 169 

Luther 173 

Lydia 167 

Sarah 168 

Cook, Noah 50 

Timothy 50 

Crocker, Alden 113 

Delana 112 

Crosby, Lucy 237 

Cummincrs, Jon 38, 173a-j 

Curry. Nancy 187 

Curtis. Levi 214 

Dane, wid 96 

Danforth, Sam., Jr 68 

De Forrest, wid. Jane 91 

Doane, Eben 215 

Douty 174-85 

Abigail 180 

Calvin S 181 

Charles 183 

David 36-184 



Frank S 181 

George 176 

Hiram 179 

John 177 

Lovey 182 

Lucy 185 

Martha 178 

Oaksman 175 

Paulina 110-174 

Philena 110-174 

Drake, David 161 

Dunlop, John 155 

Eagar, James 9 

Lydia 9 

Eaton, Mary 61 

Eddy, Jonas 37 

Eldridge 140 

Emerson, John 1 

Evans, Benj 78 

Susanna 55 

Fairbanks, Lydia 2 

Farnham, Sam 132 

William 130 

Farrar, Jacob 1 

Fay, Gershom and eh 4 

Capt. Jon 9 

Orlin P 4 

Flagg, Morning B 28 

Fletcher, wid. Deb 28 

Floyd. Jesse 126 

Foliett 186-91 

Alexander 191 

Henry 102 

David 19 

John 19, 186 

King 188 

Lifa 189 

Lucy 125 

Silas 187 

William 190 

Forbush. Jon 1 

Fosket, Tabitha 14 

Foster. James 145 

Joseph 145 

French. Abigail 197 

John 200 

Molly 71 



Index 



111 



Fuller, Edward 54 

Lucretia 54 

Garaiix, Margaret 88 

Peter 88 

Gates 192-4 

Caleb 15 

Achsah 192 

Artemas 193 

Wid. Elizabeth 20 

Josiah 194 

Olive 221 

Getehell, Benj 166 

Jennie 164 

Goodwin, William 116 

Grimes, Griffith 51 

Groves, Mary 82 

Gulliver, Rhoda 211 

Gurley, Lois 52 

Samuel __ 52 

Hale, Capt 11 

Hall, Polly 173' 

Hamlin, Betsy 34 

Harmon, Ruth 19 

Hartshorn, Mary 93 

Hastings. Benj 20 

Susanna 20 

Hawkins, Amy 186 

Ephraim 148 

Hayward, Hannah 1 

Head, Polly 230 

Susan 230 

Heald. Cyrus 106, 203 

Harriet 203 

Hedges, David 74 

Matthew 74 

Herring, Josephine 184 

Hilton, Mary 177 

Holden, Chas 163 

Dennis 192 

Ephraim 11 

Harriet 157 

Philemon 192 

Sabra 194 

Holloway, Adam 1 

Mary 1 

William 1 



Homsted 195-205 

Abel 196 

Abigail 195 

Betsy 199a 

Daniel 33, 201 

Franklin 204 

Hannah 202 

Lueinda 200 

Margaret 205 

Mary 199 

Reuben 198 

Seth 203 

Timothy 197 

Hook, John 79 

Horn, Harriet 198 

Howe ... 5 

Martha 9 

Tabitha 9 

Hutchinson, Dan 195 

Sally 196 

Jennings, Alvah 76 

Richard 88 

Johnson, Benj 67 

Hollis 67 

Jordan, Loring 92 

Kelly, Nancy 91 

Keyes, John 3 

Kincaid, Orrin 185 

Lambert 206-15 

Abigail 27 

Daniel 206 

David 207 

James 212 

Lydia 209 

Martha 215 

Mary 214 

Richard 211 

Robert 213 

Sherebiah 31 

Solomon 208 

Willard 210 

Lavigne, Harriette 84 

Lawrence, Isaac 104 

Sarah 217 

Leighton, Liberty 115 

Leiand, Henry 96 

Walter 96 



IV 



Index 



Lippenwell, Eliz 234 

Longley, Capt 14 

Love, Rev. Wm. DeL 52 

Luce, wid. Rhoda 52 

Lyman, Tertius 145 

McClure, Sam 1 

McKenny, wid. Cath 80 

MeNeff, Andrew 8 

Macomber, Sally 176 

Malbon, Sally 198 

Marion, Mary 219 

May, Hannah 187 

Maynard, Daniel 5 

David 2, 6 

Keziah 2 

Mead, Harriet 124 

Merriam, David 170 

Isaac 168 

Jonathan 168 

Monroe, Eleanor 168 

Morgridge, Celia 128 

Joseph 105,111 

Martha 35 

Nason, Martha 201 

Needham, Jas. C 23, 161 

Oak— Oaks— Oakes 

Abel 34,119 

Abigail 49,74,108 

Abraham 52,64 

Amanda 114 

Ann 6 

Araminta 135 

Arethusa 73 

Asa 40,65,93 

Benjamin 70 

Beriah 14,69 

Betsy 76,86,130 

Calvin 54 

Charity 132 

Cynthia 98 

Daniel ....28,66,83,90,127 

Darius 139 

Ebenezer 59, 124 

Elbridge 115 

Elijah 18 

Eliza 122 



Elizabeth 23,62,89,102 

Electrius 84 

Ephraim 53 

Eunice 67 

Fanny 131 

Francis 95 

George, 9,142 

Gardner 124 

Hannah 4,16,19 

Henry L 65, 83 

Hepzibah 50 

James 63, 120 

Jesse 44 

Joel 51 

John 7, 27, 57, 61, 80, 125, 138 

Jonathan 8, 25, 97 

Kezia 46 

Lamar Chace 133 

Lebbeus 65 

Levi 30, 82, 100, 143 

Levinah 17 

Lois 29 

Louisa 96 

Lovina 126 

Lucy 36,37,116 

Lydia, 22, 38, 81, 99, 113, 137 

Lyndon 70 

Margaret 144 

Marina 92 

Martha 43 

Mary 5,21,101,140 

Millie 31,106 

Mindweli 15 

Morning 92,111 

Mortimer 134 

Moses 91 

Nancy 78,107 

Nathaniel . 1, 2, 13, 20, 55, 72 

Olive 105 

Ora 81 

Othniel 103 

Otis 128 

Owen 112 

Phebe 68 

Polly 60 

Rachel 88 

Rebecca 26,136 



Index 



V 



Relief 47 

Saloma 56 

Samuel 87, 121 

Sarah 24,77,79 

Seth 11 

Silas 141 

Simeon 117 

Solomon 32,110 

Stephen 118 

Susan 109 

Susannji 71 

Sybil 33, 104 

Sylvanus 39 

Tabitha 12 

Tamar 133 

Thankful 42,48 

Thomas 58,94,95 

Vashti 41 

William 

3, 10, 35, 45, 75, 85, 123, 129 

Oldham, Abel 186 

Lydia 186 

Orr, Susau 35 

Osburn, Sarah 21 

Osgood, Rebecca 8 

Page, Fred 135 

Jane 91 

Paige, Caroline 95 

Col. Edward 95 

John 95 

Parker, Azuba 213 

Parsons, Sarah 120 

Partridge, Sarah 123 

. Patrick, Sam 10 

Patten, Moody .. ..202 

Perham, Jon 11 

Petingill, Eliz 112 

Philbrook, Betsy 83 

Elisha 81 

Pierce, Ruth 22 

Pierson. Rhoda 52 

Pike, Hannah 90 

Marshall 92 

Pooler, George 199 

Powers, Keziah 50 

Pritchard, Capt. Thos 55 



Rand, Abigail 8 

Daniel 226 

John 8 

Randal, Ebenezer 67 

Rediat, John 1 

Mehitable 1 

Rice, Edward 2 

Susanna 216 

Tabitha 2 

Zebulon 216 

Thomas 1 

Rich, Esther 172 

Robbins, Martha 65 

Robinson, Althea 179 

Rockham, Amaziah 55 

Rogers, Robert 195 

Susan 5 

Rollins, Moses 107 

Sampson . .216-28 

Abraham 218 

Betsy 228 

Ephraim 221 

John 225 

Jonathan 21,153,216 

Lucy 153,224 

Lydia 219 

Mary 217 

Moses 222 

Oliver 220 

Peleg 21 

Rebecca 226 

Relief 223 

Solomon 227 

Sargent, Capt 39 

Saunders, Hudson 126 

Sally 121 

Sawin, Abigail 220 

John 220 

Sawtell, Abigail 20 

Sawyer, Hepz 10 

Scales, Abigail 72 

Scott, Eben 190 

Lutheda 190 

Sears 229-30 

Fanny 229 

Thom'as 230 

Willard 29 



VI 



Index 



Shattuck, Abel 137 

Thomas 137 

Lydia 144 

Shaw, Phebe 74 

Sherman, Elizabeth 94 

Shevally, Elizabeth 11 

Silver, Sampson 116 

Smith. Benj 70 

Ephraim 232 

Georp:e 7 

Hannah 70 

Sally 70 

Timothy 186 

Spencer, Olive 151 

Stacy, Bradford 92 

Standish, Capt. Miles 21 

Staples, Mary 183 

Stearns, Eliza 85 

Levi 85 

Stevens, Dorothy 117 

Rachel 19 

William 98 

Stewart, Amos 144 

Widow 65 

Stiles 231-7 

David 12,234 

Eunice 233 

Gideon 235 

Kezia 236 

Minda 231 

Nathaniel 237 

Rhoda 232 

Stone, Mrs. J. L 67 

Stuart, Rebecca 171 

Tanner, Louisa 188 

Tarr, James 182 

Taylor, Reuben 76 

Thorp, Joseph 136 



Tibbetts, Paul 86 

Sarah 100 

Tottingham, Elisha 217 

Moses 217 

Treadwell, Albert 92 

Tuft, Mary 237 

Walker, Hannah 52 

Joanna 64 

Sarah 63 

Thomas 63 

Wallace, Betsy 158 

Walton, Robert 122 

Washburn 50 

Weymouth, Mary 129 

Wheeler, Eliz 8 

Joseph 1 

Sarah 8 

Thomas 8 

Whitcomb, Jonas 60 

Relief 10 

William 10 

White, Jane 143 

Whitmore, Edward 219 

Joseph 219 

Whitney, Abigail 8 

Mary 220 

Peter 1 

Wilcox, Daniel 11 

Wilder, Col. Oliver 11 

Wilson, Nath'l 49 

Winch, John 223 

Wiswell, Sam 56 

Woodhouse, Chloe 150 

Woodward, Abijah 62 

Wormell, Joseph 178 

Wright, Polly 171 

Wyman, Lydia 235 

Young, John 89 



rUAN 17 1907 



LIBHAHY U»- UUNliHtb&i 



r 

021 392 043 1 




